Perplexity
PERPLEXITY.The word perplexity () occurs but once in the NT (Luk 21:25), in that reminiscence of Daniel which foretells the day of terrors that shall usher in the presence of the Son of Man. But the idea has remarkable associations with Christ in the Gospels. Not only is perplexity discernible in His own experience, but He was then (as now) a frequent cause of it in others. His powers, and the amazing insight of His wisdom, were a continual occasion of astonishment to the mere onlookers (Mat 13:54-56, cf. Luk 4:22). To explain His exorcisms, the Pharisees were driven to the confusing theory of demoniac possession (Mat 9:34 || Mat 12:24, Mar 3:22, Luk 11:15). His disciples would listen to His unconventional judgments with blank perplexity. Had He not, for example, taught them the blessedness of charity, and the law of love for ones neighbour? What, then, could they make of His defence of this waste of a box of precious ointment (Mat 26:8 || Joh 12:4)? It was hard for a disciple to understand why He should resist an opportunity of helping the poor: men are slow to learn the value of a rightful surrender of our most beautiful and treasured possessions for the purpose of reverence only. Not a little of the disciples perplexity arose from their own materialistic preconceptions. When Jesus used the language of parable or metaphor, they made no attempt to reach the deeper and more spiritual meaningas when He spoke of the Sower (Mar 4:13 || Luk 8:9), or of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mat 16:5-12 || Luk 12:1). Once the awful terror which is sometimes the accompaniment of perplexity seized themwhen Jesus spoke with such dread certainty of the presence of one among them who was ready to give Him up, and they looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake (Joh 13:22). Yet, while Christ perplexed others, especially those who knew Him least, they seemed powerless to perplex Him. Perfect obedience to the will of God in all things left no room for that flickering of faith which blurs the answer or the gospel of so many teachers. When questioners deliberately attempted to puzzle Him, He unravelled their tangles with instinctive ease (Mat 9:5 || Mar 2:9, Luk 5:23; Mat 12:4 || Mar 2:26, Luk 6:4). Sometimes in a phrase He re-tied the knot into a problem which they were unable to resolve, as when they asked by what authority He did these things (Mat 21:27 || Mar 11:28, Luk 20:2), or in the question of the tribute money being paid to Caesar (Mat 22:21 || Mar 12:17, Luk 20:25), or the casuistry of the woman with the seven husbands (Mat 22:30 || Mar 12:25, Luk 20:35). The pain of perplexity seems to have come to Jesus only towards the end of His life on earth, and then it was more from within than from without. In those closing days the burden of His mission, and all that it would entail in the far future of the world, seemed to weigh heavily upon Him. Near at hand He felt the weakness of His disciples loyalty, and was especially troubled in the spirit about Judas (Joh 13:21). As He looked forward into the days to come, there fell upon Him the knowledge of divisions, feuds, persecutions that would arise in His name to incarnadine the world. He was face to face with the baptism of all leadership: it would be His to kindle the flaming passions of men, Prince of Peace as He is (Luk 12:51). Is it any wonder that on the threshold of such a task He should be distressed, perplexed (, (Revised Version margin) pained)? He is moved to hesitate: at least the temptation arises when He feels spiritual perplexity (Joh 12:27). And in Gethsemane the overstrained humanity utters the cry of longing for escapeFather, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt (Mat 26:39). In that last sentence He reveals to us the key of deliverance from all cankering perplexity, all that uncertainty which confuses and enervates the will. He shows the world the supremacy of a will resigned to God. It is the truism of the choiceNo man can serve two masters: Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Mat 6:24 || Luk 16:13). Try to serve both, and you have strife and confusion within and around: life becomes a war of irreconcilable ideals. But bend all thoughts, desires, will, towards God; learn the worth of Christs word, Be not anxious as to food, life, raiment, and the rest, for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things (Mat 6:25-33 || Luk 12:22-36). There are no more troubled hearts and perplexed wills for those who rest in God and live in Christ (Joh 14:1), for to them the prayer, Thy will be done (Mat 6:10), finds its invariable answer in a sublime and heavenly peace. See also artt. Amazement, Doubt.
Edgar Daplyn.