In consideration of our scripture selection, the title as listed above appears to be unreasonably over-stated. In our mind’s eye, we conceive Jesus and the disciples striding directly into a well-laid trap. The priests are hunkering low in waistdeep trenches, the scribes located strategically in reinforced bunkers, their religious peers dug in somewhere behind barbed wire barricades ... "entrenched evil." But no, it was not to be that obvious. Evil entrenches itself in many ways. We will mention here some of the more glaring entrenchments encountered by Jesus and the twelve as they entered the holy city.

1. Corruption. Dishonesty, misrepresentation, and crookedness are always evil because they are the manifestation of a lie. Corruption had carried over onto the temple…