43: More Than What They Asked For (Mt 22:15-33) + Communion

DAD JOKES

Did you hear that laughing too loudly is illegal in Hawaii? They only permit a-low-ha.

My dream job is to clean mirrors, because I can really see myself doing that.

Spring is here! I got so excited I wet my plants!

I was also SUPER EXCITED to hear Chris Day teaching last week while Tonya & I were a part of a DNow weekend at FBC Ft. Walton Beach.

2 weeks ago we heard Jesus tell the story about A King’s Invitation to celebrate his son’s marriage. But many of those invited refused to attend. Some of them even killed the messengers who came to extend the King’s invitation.

This story, just like the 2 stories that Jesus told before that, showed the difference between those who…

Responded to the Invitation in Repentance versus those who refused to REPENT and follow Jesus - as represented in the story as the man who showed up to the wedding but refused to wear the wedding clothes,

who was then thrown outside into the darkness, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And now we catch up to the text for today, as the enemies of Jesus are tired of being the piñata that keeps getting whacked by Jesus. It is now that those of different political parties who didn’t really like each other team up together to attempt to defeat their common enemy, as the old saying goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Except, in attempting to corner Jesus, they end up getting…

More Than They Asked For - MUCH MORE!

PRAY

Matthew 22:15 (NIV)

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.

They have multiple pitchers warming up in the bullpen, all convinced that they have the pitch to strike Jesus out.

The 1st pitcher has a mean slider, that breaks both down and away from the batter.

Matthew 22:16 (NIV) They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.

The disciples of the Pharisees and the 'Herodians' were a strange combination.

The Pharisees saw themselves as guardians of the Scriptures, pointing to and awaiting the Messiah who would release them from Roman rule.

The Herodians, on the other hand, were appreciative of Rome's authority given to Herod & his family. They gave their allegiance to Rome & thereby compromised their spiritual beliefs & behavior to further stabilize their comfortable political position.

So here we have a coalition of differing political & religious perspectives who joined forces to take Jesus out.

Remember, this is all a set-up, so they are blowing smoke, somehow hoping that their smooth flattery will cover up their real agenda - to trap Him in His words.

Matthew 22:17 (NIV) Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

This tax was a reminder that the Jewish people were under the rule of Rome, and it could only be paid with a denarius.

The denarius was about the size of a dime and was the average pay for a day’s labor. [1] On one side of the denarius was an image of Tiberius with this inscription: "Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus”. [2] (Augustus was the emperor at the time of Jesus’ birth.)

Kent Hughes writes:

"The demand was sobering because for an upright Jew the image of Caesar on a coin was an abomination. The inscription “divine Augustus” was considered a transgression of the Second Commandment against graven images (Exodus 20:4) and thus obvious blasphemy." [1]

According to Josephus, this imperial tax infuriated nationalist Jews, like a Galilean named 'Yudah' or - in English - Judas, who led a revolt against Rome in A.D. 6 (Jos. War 2.118) over this very tax. [4]

So the question posed - “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” - was a dual horned dilemma, where either answer would impale Jesus.

Jesus would either prove to be 1) loyal to Rome and her Emperor OR 2) loyal to Israel and the One True God. “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” - that’s the question?

If Jesus says “yes”, then the Pharisees can undercut His claims to be the Messiah - who they thought was coming to loose them from Rome's grip.

If Jesus says “no”, then the Herodians could charge Him with being a revolutionary who stood against the Romans, which would likely bring an expedited execution. Note: This is what they later charge Jesus with to get Him crucified -

Luke 23:2 (CSB) They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

Matthew 22:18-19 (NIV) But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,

Matthew 22:20-21 (NIV) and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Think about the brilliance of that! The coin belongs to Caesar, because his image is on it…that’s obvious. But Jesus uses this as a springboard to make a more important point: “give back…to God what is God’s.”

As the IMAGE of Caesar is imprinted on the denarius,

the IMAGE of God is imprinted on PEOPLE. The Scripture declares that God created man & woman in HIS IMAGE (Gen. 1:27)!

Give THIS (coin) back to Caesar, but give THIS (your LIFE) to the God who created you in HIS IMAGE!

Matthew 22:22 (NIV) When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Who else could get out of that…LIKE THAT? They threw their best pitch and Jesus swatted it over the fence!

So, Jesus couldn’t be struck out by the Pharisees nor the Herodians,

so the Sadducees make their way to the mound.

The Sadducees were "mean spirited, religious aristocrats" who served on staff at the temple. [5]

The Sadducees had the lock on the high priesthood, and had to play the political game with the Romans to stay in power at the temple. These are the guys who were responsible for allowing the selling of animals in the temple, as we saw a couple of teachings ago.

The high priest - Caiaphas - was a Sadducee, the one who would ultimately condemn Jesus to death. But now, these religious elite approached the Galilean country boy to put Him in His place. And they wielded the typical tactic they likely used to stump the Pharisees in the past.

The 1st first pitchers from the Pharisees & Herodians couldn’t strike Jesus out, so in come the Sadducees the lefties with a wicked curve ball.

Matthew 22:23–25 (NIV) That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

Matthew 22:26–28 (NIV) Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

Do you see the dilemma they are pointing out?

The Sadducees say there is no resurrection - one and done - you live, you die, it’s over. Base on their philosophy, if there WAS a physical resurrection of the dead, the next life would be a big mess, with more problems than answers. Which of the 7 brothers will she be married to in eternity? How would Jesus event make contact with THIS PITCH? We’re about to find out.

Matthew 22:29–30 (NIV) Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

When I read this my mind inserts ‘old school’ Bat-man action graphics here: ‘Ka-pow! BONK! Boom! SPLATT!’

The reality is some of US might be looking through the same lenses that they were looking through. You see, the Sadducees believed parts of the Scripture & discounted other parts that didn’t fit with their belief system.

They leaned on the Pentateuch, the 1st five writings, & stressed that they contained no reference to resurrection. Yet they dismissed other OT writings that DID speak of resurrection of the dead (e.g. Job 19:26; Psalm 16:9–11; Isaiah 26:19; Dan. 12:2-3)

We should consider this verbal spanking to the Sadducees as a warning shot across the bow. Don’t bend the Bible to fit your presupposed Beliefs. Instead, read ALL of the Scripture and bend your beliefs to fit the BIBLE!

Ultimately, Jesus explains that the relationships in eternity will be different than the relationships on earth. We won’t BE angels, but will be LIKE angels in several ways. And since the Sadducees didn’t believe in angels either (Acts 23:8), this is a another stick Jesus pokes in the ant pile - that these guys don’t KNOW the Scriptures - because angels DO exist.

First, This is NOT teaching that people become angels. We don't. In fact, YOU are a greater creation than an angel and the apostle Paul says we will judge angels one day (1 Cor. 6:3). Instead, we will be like angels in that:

at the resurrection, we will never get sick & never die.

We will be able to be in the very Presence of our Creator - forever!

We will not BE married nor GET married. That means, depending on your experience - it’s going to be MUCH BETTER than any marriage relationship!

To those in bad marriages this might seem like a breath of fresh air, but to those in good marriages, this seems like punishment. My wife & I have discussed this several times...and we don't like it! But the truth is...we have never experienced any relationships with people completely free of sin...including OUR relationship.

Just imagine relationships where NO SIN enters in - NO lies, NO selfishness, NO pride! Where EVERYONE there is your FAMILY!!!

Matthew 22:31-32 (NIV) But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

What Jesus does here is nothing short of BRILLIANT! The Sadducees only believe the 1st 5 writings - the Pentateuch - SO…Jesus uses the Pentateuch - the part of the Scripture they trust - to PROVE His point about eternal life.

Jesus reminds them of Yahweh's meeting at the burning bush with Moses:

Exodus 3:6a (NIV)

…He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

By Moses’ time, the Jewish patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob had long been dead (over 400 years!). God DOESN’T SAY, "I WAS the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob." but “I AM the God the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob."

Therefore Jesus concludes with these words and hits another homer, saying…

Matthew 22:31-33 (NIV) …He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

2 Pitches - 2 Home-runs. The enemies of Jesus got

More Than What They Asked For.

This is not only true for those who CONFRONT Jesus, but also for those who choose to FOLLOW Jesus.

In just a few short days from the time of the text we are reading, Jesus will meet with His disciples in an upper room, where He - the King -

will become the servant who washes their feet.

And then Jesus will offer them MUCH More than what they asked for - His desire to go to the cross to pay for THEIR sins. And so now we enter into a special time that the Apostle Paul calls “The Lord’s Supper”, when we remember what Jesus has done for you.

Lord’s Supper

As the deacons come up to pass out the bread and juice, I must remind you WHO this meal is FOR, and for who it is NOT.

If you are a follower of Jesus - you have turned from your sin and trusted in the Lord Jesus for your forgiveness & your future, then this IS for you.

If you claim to be a follower of Jesus, yet you are NOT following Him - you are living in sin instead of turning from it - you have 2 options:

you choose not to change, not to turn from your sin - then DO NOT participate today - let the bread and juice pass you by.

1 Corinthians 11:27–30 (CSB)

So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

You confess your sin to the Lord Jesus right now - turn from your sin and thank Jesus for paying for you! With His help & the help of other followers of Jesus, you’re NOT going back to your sin. - You SHOULD participate today.

Finally, if you don’t claim to FOLLOW JESUS, then this meal is not for you - YET! I pray that you will consider the claims of Jesus, as many others in this room have done; that you would recognize that Jesus was more than a good man who showed us how to live right, but Jesus was the GOD-man who came to give us His righteousness! - When you turn from your sin and follow Jesus, then you are welcome to this meal!

Let’s take a moment to prepare ourselves…let’s pray.

PRAY - with music

SONG - By His Wounds

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (CSB)

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25 (CSB)

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:26 (CSB)

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

You see...

Communion celebrates the past payment and the future promise of Jesus.

Tell someone: He forgave us much and He’s coming back!

_____________

Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), Lk 20:20.

Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), 525.

R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 266.

Craig S. Keener, 525.

R. Kent Hughes, 273.

_____________

Discussion Questions

Read Matthew 22:14-18. It looked like either way Jesus answered, He would be in trouble - discuss why this was so.

Read Matthew 22:19-22. How did the answer Jesus give sidestep their trap? Explain how the answer Jesus gave, told him to submit to the authority of the emperor, as well as the authority of the Creator.

Read Gen 1:27 and consider how we bear the image of our Creator. What does that mean and how should it impact us to live?

Read Matthew 22:23-33. What dilemma did the Sadducees point out to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to their question about marriage and resurrection?

What did Jesus use as evidence to prove His point about eternal life when responding to the Sadducees? (read v Mt 22: 31-33 & Ex 3:6) If Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob are currently alive, even though physically dead, what is the current state for followers of Jesus who have passed away?

What does it mean that people will be “like angels” (Mt 22:30)? How does this encourage you & how does it challenge you? Take a few minutes and wrestle with the fact that there is no marriage in heaven…AND that our relationships will be BETTER - with no sin!

Just as the Sadducees had chosen to discount, some of the scriptures, we can fall into the danger of doing the same thing. What can we do to make sure that we rightly interpret the scriptures and recognize which writings come from God in which do not?

What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?

How can we pray for/care for one another this week? (Pray for one another.)