Gotcha

It’s been around since the Garden of Eden - a question to entrap or at least embarrass, making the Quizzer look smart and the Quizzed look stupid.
“Did God really say, ‘ You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  [Genesis 3:1]

Many years ago I first heard, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” And it continues today, especially in smarmy journalism, to marginalize an interviewed opponent:
“Tim Tebow, are you a virgin?”  Gotcha

Jesus, however, must have the distinction of attracting the most Gotcha questions.
The wind-up: “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity.”
The pitch: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Gotcha

Not quite. Jesus turned their coin and their answer into a real choke hold.
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.  [Matt. 22:15-22]

The wind-up: “Teacher, Moses told us . . .” blah, blah, blah.
The pitch: “At the resurrection, whose wife will she be . . .?” GotchaNot quite. Jesus offered them a quick review of what Moses really said.
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.  [Matt. 22:23-33]

The wind-up: “Teacher”
The pitch: “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  GotchaNot quite. Jesus combined two Old Testament statements - from Deuteronomy and Leviticus.
Another: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” GotchaAgain, not quite. Jesus deftly refreshed their partial memory from Psalms.
No one could say a word in reply … no one dared to ask him any more questions.  [Matt. 22:34-46]

Well, just one more attempt – especially since they had Jesus tied like a threatening thug.
The wind-up: “Jesus stood before the governor”
The pitch: “Are you the king of the Jews?”  Gotcha“Yes, it is as YOU say,” Jesus replied. His final words to the Gotcha Gang.  [Matt. 27:11]

Thirty-nine verses later, “he gave up his spirit.”
But some 39 hours later, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” [Matt. 28:6]
For all mankind it was not Gotcha, but then and now it is Gotcha covered … by my blood.