An Earthly Test

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 12

Psalm 12 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 50:3-6

Psalm 50:3–6 ESV

Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah

Sermon

GMC! I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

Well; today as we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew we will be looking at Matthew 22:15-22. Now we have spent a long time now in the book of Matthew, longer than any series that I have ever done, so that is a fun bit of trivia for you, but instead of looking at this as the 69th in a series through the whole book of Matthew, It would be helpful for us to see this a the first sermon in a four part series on Jesus being tested. here. by the pharisees.

We have seen the testing sort of start. A couple weeks ago we saw that the authority of Jesus would be challenged. The pharisees approach him and ask: By whose authority do you do these things? And Jesus wouldn’t really answer their question because they were not being open and honest about what they were really looking for. they just wanted to trap him, maybe humiliate him, definitely they wanted to get him arrested. But here there will be a series of three test that various groups will put Jesus through, then the fourth lesson Jesus is the one who will put others to test. and it is really cool. But in each one we will see there is a different focus thought or realm that they are trying to trip jesus up in. And here for this week the first test is the EARTHLY test. Is the test for living here, on this earth.

And it is here that the pharisees think they have figured out the way to trap Jesus. To do so, they will partner with people that they really do not like, but it turns out they don’t like them less than they do not like Jesus…Which is like a pen-tuple negative... probably better to say they hate jesus more than they hate these guys. So with that being said, understanding that this is a test of Jesus, the first of many, lets read our passage for today. Probably one that we have heard before, a famous saying of Jesus here. So lets read, Matthew 22, starting in verse 15

Matthew 22:15–22 ESV

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning, lets open with a word of prayer.

Dear Lord we do thank you for today. We thank you for your sovereign word, given to us that we may know you. Thank you for your sovereign hand at work in all things, guiding us, leading us. We thank you that you are high and lifted up, seated in the heavenlies. help us to be faithful to do all that you have called us to do. help us to hear form you, to know what you have said and then be those people who do what you have said, not just hearing it. Speak to our hearts this morning. WE do pray that you would use this time, and use your word to conform us into the image of your son, for it is in his name that we pray. AMEN

As i Mentioned this is a famous passage, we have all probably heard it, at least in passing, the words here, RENDER TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S. But what is important to note is the heart behind all of this. This ism, in fact, a test. The pharisees are seeing to, verse 15, entangle him. They are trying to trap him. They are trying to paint a picture such that Jesus cannot win. And we see this clearly if we dive deep into their QUESTION

The QUESTION

They come up to Jesus, here we have, we are introduced in verse 16 to see the two groups bringing this question, it is important to note. The disciples of the Pharisees along with the herodians.

Now we don;t really know exactly who the herodians were, what exactly they believed in or what they did, but their name says a whole lot about who they probably stood for, defiantly who they represented, and who they most likely they thought had ultimate authority. They are going to side with Herod.

So you have the Pharisees, the leaders of Jewish culture, the people who hated Herod, hated that they were under his rule and authority. hated this whole situation, but their hatred for Jesus is so much more. They are willing to swallow their pride, dignity and even in many ways they are willing to set aside their morals to partner with these herodians.

And here is the question: IS IT LAWFUL TO PAY TAXES TO CESAR OR NOT.

Matthew 22:17 ESV

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

the question on it’s face is pretty simple. It is lawful to pay taxes or not? Why is this a controversial question? Most of us sitting here would say, well of course it is lawful. Sure we would prefer not to. But the question is not, should we love paying taxes to Caesar or not? but rather is it LAWFUL. we live in a country that spent a long time fighting for “no taxation without representation” but that is a rather new thing if we just look at the history of the world. But you know what is NOT new. Taxes. Been around for about forever. There are two things that have been unavoidable for as long as man has lived on this earth. DEATH AND TAXES. So in some ways we just all sort of know. Paying taxes is the cost of living in whatever society culture, whatever authority structure you live in, it is the cost of that, that is what taxes are.

but part of understanding the full weight of the question, is seeing all that goes along with it in their mind. For before they ask the question, they butter Jesus up. verse 16

“teacher we know that you are true”. and they are right. But what are they saying here. Really that we know the things that you say the way you represent yourself is truthful. Now what they are MISSING is that Jesus IS THE WAY AND THE TRUTH, not only is he true, but he is the truth. But not only do they say that, but we know that you are true and that you teach the way of God truthfully.

he does, by the way. they are not wrong. but why are they saying this. WHY would the disciples of the Pharisees say these things that they obviously do not actually believe? well lets look to the second part of this. “and you do not care about anyone's opinion” True, he does not, only the will of the father, and finally “you are not swayed by appearances” again, they are right. This man who would dine with prostitutes and tax collectors, who would hang out with the unclean. the one who would walk through samaria to spend some time talking to those unclean vagabonds. truly he was one who was not swayed by appearances of any one else opinions

So they are right, but why would they say these things, what is their angle? It is because their hope is that with this question they can prove that all those things are is a persona, his truthfulness, his not being swayed, it is all a facade. What they are hoping to prove with this question is that Jesus isn’t all he claims to be.

What lies at the heart of this question that seems so easy to us lies a deep theological debate. “Should a Jewish person have to pay taxes to Rome”? The idea of it being lawful is not is it “legal” like we would assume. We hear legal, and we think breaking the civil code. So of course it is legal to pay taxes. in fact, we would say that it is ILLEGAL NOT to pay taxes. you can go to prison, have your stuff taken, wages garnished, etc. So when we hear “is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar” we are thinking in a civil sense. And honestly that is probably the same thoughts that the herodians would have. SO for them the answer is “of course” just like for us, if we were asked this question we would say “of course it is LEGAL” what are you even talking about?

but the fact that it is the PHARISEE with the herdians give testimony that there is something else going on with this question, because it is not JUST the law of Rome that we need to weigh here. What does Moses say? Because that is truly the law that we care about. the law of God, the law given us at Sinai, given from on high. When God came and gave us his law, in that way is it LAWFUL for us, gods chosen people, US whom God called and loved and cared for, US whom he called out of captivity in Egypt, is it lawful for us to have to pay taxes to Rome.

Their goal was no matter how jesus answered this someone would be mad, either the herodians or some devout Jews and either way Jesus would show that he is swayed by someones opinions, we just need to figure out who. Who will be mad, those who think that we live under Gods laws not Rome, those devout followers of god, is he going to make them mad as he doesn't just acknowledge the injustice of Roman Law, but seems to stand for it. Or he will say we don’t pay taxes and then we are done. We don’t even need to worry about arresting him then because Rome will show up and take care of our business for us!.

the Question is asked in such a way as to paint Jesu into a corner. no matter how you answer this question the Pharisees think you will make someone mad, and who are you going to tick off? Jesus cares about SOMEONES opinion, and how he answers will show where his real concerns are, so Jesus, please tell us, is it lawful to pay taxes to caesar or not?

So Jesus gives them AN ANSWER

The ANSWER

it is interesting, even knowing that their goal is to entangle him. We have seen it before, just one chapter ago, knowing their heart he would not answer their question. Well not exactly right he would have, if they would have answered his. You tell me, Jesus said, where Johns baptism comes from. You tell me where exactly John Got the authority to baptize, was it heaven or man, you tell me where John’s baptism is from and I will tell you where my authority comes from.

But here he tells them an answer, well, after he asks them two questions of his own. First he asks: “why put me to the test? Why are you doing this? You think I am swayed by opinions, why are you doing this? the pharisees don’t answer this rhetorical hypothetical question. Why are they putting him to the test, well point blank it is because they are, as Jesus says, hypocrites.

But there is more here. It is as if he is saying, you are asking me this, why don;t you guys provide an answer first. This was a hard question and so it was one they had expertly spent their lives avoiding. But why don;t you pharisees and Herodians, why don't you two groups get together, why don;t you discuss it among yourselves, that would go over great I am sure, why don;t you to get together and ask: is it lawful to pay taxes to caesar or not? then when you can tell me what you think lets talk. he could have gone there, he didn’t. He says OK. Bring me a coin.

There is more going on to this than we may full realize, and in this little scene the answer is already being given. part of the heart behind the idea of we shouldn’t pay taxes to Rome was a thought and a heart of being completely separate. We don;t pay taxes to Rome because we are not roman, we don;’t do roman things we don't have anything to do with Rome. So if you were going to be one who would say “we shouldn’t pay the tax” then you shouldn’t use the coin. You shouldn’t be familiar with it and surely you shouldn’t have one ready to go. But lo and behold here is a denarius. Pull one out. OK. already the heart is shown, they are at least using roman money, but Jesus continues with another question.

Whose likeness is on the coin? Whose picture? Whose face is on that coin? this is the same way we often think about money. Lincoln is on a penny, Washington on a quarter, and we even have in our vocabulary this thought as hundred dollar bills are often called “Benjamins”. That is who is on it. So who is on a deanarius? Caesar! And there is you answer

Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Well whose coin is it? It is Caesar's, ultimately, his face is on it. Ok then

RENDER TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S

Here is your answer to the question. Here is the question again: Is it lawful to pay taxes? Well are you operating under Rome’s umbrella of authority? Do you live in a place where roman money is used and exchanged? do you operate in a marketplace where roman money passed form hand to hand? are you doing those things? If so you render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

There is a lot going on here in terms of: Caesar is the one who set up a system where in you could go and sell your wares in the marketplace. It is his authority that allows you to have the peace and safety to do the things that you do. so if it is Caesar's coin pay him the tax. In doing this the herodians would be OK, in saying this answer this way they have absolutely nothing to complain about. OK. this guy, he thinks we should pay the roman tax, we have no quarrel there. but in answering it this way he has also shown the pharisees have no ground to stand on, by answering this way he has shown the proof of what he has just said of them, that they are hypocrites.

You are making such a big deal about paying the taxes to Rome. Do we have to pay Caesar's tax, do we have to do this or that? But you are using his coin, his face is on it, of course you pay his tax. this is not an issue of you being separate and you being free from Rome, the issue here is that you live under Rome, and you live like it.

Now we could have a discussion about you living under Rome, and is that good or bad? or why are we under roman oppression? and we could ask where did we mess up and what judgement of God is this that we are not free and we could have those conversations. but you didn;t ask those questions. You asked “do we pay taxes?” Is Caesar's face on it? is it his money? then pay him his taxes.

There is nothing inherently sinful in living in Rome, that is where God placed you. you are not breaking the law of moses by paying the tax to caesar. you can do BOTH. and in fact you must do both. Because Jesus ends with a LESSON

The LESSON

He doesn't JUST answer the question in the way that they ask. if all we had was the first half I would argue that he has answered their question. Is it lawful to pay the tax? Render to Caesar the things that are CAESAR’S? that’s the end of that question, but Jesus pushes them further and teaches them a lesson. RTCTTTAC and to God the things that are God’s

Give HIM all due allegiance, honor, praise and Glory. Give to God the things that he deserves, the things that are his which ultimately is everything. There is so much in this lesson here that we could dive into. WHY are they to Give to Caesar the things that are his? because God told them to. More than that, part of rendering to God the things that are his is giving him all our allegiance and OBEDIENCE and scripture is clear that God is the one who placed certain authorities over us, Paul in particular makes this clear and this will be what we talk about at grace group this week, but the idea is that God has places authority over us and so part of being devoted to, serving and loving God is submitting to authority over us.

So we pay our taxes. and in fact, as someone who deos not like to pay taxes and every time tax season rolls around i roll my eyes. Someone who would jump quickly on a bandwagon that said “taxation is theft” . dare I say that God placed us here, and we should gladly pay our taxes.

It is not… there is a fine line here so let me be careful how I say this… I am not a financial planner, i can only give advice and council form the word of God. While it is true that we are called to obey the laws of the land, and it is Christians duty to be good stewards and to be wise in how we handle all things including our finances. It is good and right for us to do our best to hold on to as much money as God has seen fit to give us and not just frivolously and recklessly let it drift away. So say that but then say: it is NOT for a christian to be a tax dodger. WE should pay our fair share, what they have asked from us, without grumbling or complain. not because that is right in the eyes of the federal or state government, though that is rendering to Cesar the things that are ceases, but we do so because we give to God the things that are his.

and he has called us to live lives that are above reproach. The idea that we are to render to God the things that are God’s should infiltrate every fiber of your being. It is all of who we are, our love and devotion, our TIME TALENT AND TREASURE. it is giving to God all things that he deserves, which is in no small part our obedience, and one of the things that he has asked of US is to be in submission to those in authority over us. That is surely part of giving to God the things that are God’s

And so now, knowing this the answer and the lesson we see that Jesus has perfectly responded to every compliant or criticism that one would level against him with a question like this. In the first half the Cesar to Cesar he has adequately responded in such a way that they would have nothing to say against them. he answers perfectly because he is perfect. but he goes this extra step to show the Pharisee, and the Herdoians and ultimately to show all of us that it is not enough to go around trying to follow these individual little things and call yourself good enough, no you must give to God all the things that he deserves.

So Pharisees, you hypocrites, stop trying to follow the letter and just serve him, not yourself and your own interests. Same to you herodians, your allegiance should not be to any banner except heaven. So you came asking about taxes and stuff, but lets get to your heart, and you are not right before God. Why are you not giving God the things that are his. Why didn;y you repent When John said repent? why didn't you praise the king as he entered here into Jerusalem? So now they are left with no recourse but to marvel.

but to end our time together this morning, i would like to look at the intersection of verse 15 and verse 22. This is the very beginning and the very end.

So the pharisees go away and they PLOTTED how to entangle him in his words. The pharisees are calling meetings. I picture them huddled around all together late into the night over candlelight having heated debates on how exactly they are going to get Jesus. how can we trip him up and entangle him, how EXACTLY can we get him? how exactly can we get this man who claims to be a teacher, who claims to be one who speaks with authority? how can we get him? so they plot and they plan and they scheme, then then ultimately they send their disciples. WE GOT IT. OK dudes, we got it. This is how we do this, we swallow our pride and this bitter pill called dealing with the herodians, sometimes a little bitter medicine does the trick, but if it gets rid of Jesus it is worth it all, so plug your noses and lets do this, because there is NO WAY he can answer this question and keep his same following. this will tear his people apart from the inside.

I mean, just look at his disciples, they knew these guys. So they knew that on one side you would have Simon the zealot, on the other side Matthew the tax collector. WE hit him with this one and his twelve closest will be torn asunder. WE got him.

But Jesus answers, he teaches them, then verse 22

Matthew 22:22 ESV

When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

We can note, this is it in this part from the pharisees. Jesus soundly defeats them. the remaining questions come from others.

They test jesus, Jesus passes, and they just walk away.

So here is the best lesson, even above a lesson on paying taxes to Cesar, even above any lesson in is it right to do this or that, that is here, and we as followers of Chrsit should hear and put these words to heart. But the real lesson is this: what a marvellos savrio we serve

We could go around trying to find ways that would test him. trying to find situations that maybe he is not prepared to save us from or in the midst of, but what we will find universally is that he is our perfect savior. nothing is too big or hard for him. we will spend the next weeks looking at these tests, and spoiler alert at the end of each one we will be left with a sense of marvel as we see that Jesus has all the right answers because he IS the right answer

because here is what the pharisees miss, we did this a few weeks ago, i find this to be a very helpful question, what did they MISS? What they missed is that verse 16 was not just buttering up Jesus. rather they were unknowingly speaking the truth.

Here is the savior that we serve: Matthew 22:16 we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully.

He is our savior, he is thee way the truth and the life, may we come to him humbly.

Lets pray