Render to God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning! Welcome to CHCC. I hope you all had a safe and wonderful July 4th celebration. I am so glad you could all join us this morning as we continue our study through the Gospel of Luke.
Last week’s study was a continuation into Jesus’ Jerusalem entrance. After arriving in the city by fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 by riding in on the colt of a donkey, Jesus then fulfills the prophecy of Malachi 3:1 when He makes His way into the temple. Upon arrival at the temple, Jesus finds not so much worship in His Father’s house, but rather a marketplace. Many people are selling animals for sacrifice and changing out money for the foreigners arriving for Passover.
Filled with righteous anger, Jesus drives out these salesmen and money changers and then begins preaching and teaching at the temple. This stirs up the religious leaders to try and have Jesus discredited or arrested. They do this by posing a question. They ask Him, “By what authority do you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority” (Lk. 20:2).
But Jesus, seeing the trap for what it was, answers there question with a question of His own. He ask the religious leaders, “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” (Lk. 20:4). If they answered that John’s ministry was from God, then they would be called out for their sins and their unbelief. If they said his ministry was from man, then many of the people who were baptized by John would be stirred to anger and the Pharisees feared they would be stoned to death.
So, verse 7 gives us their response: They did not know where John’s ministry came from. And so Jesus replies, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things” (Lk. 20:8). This dialogue then leads Jesus into a parable in which He speaks out against the religious leaders of Israel.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants as it is called has a handful of characters in it all representing something specific. The vineyard is a representation of Israel and the vineyard owner is God. The tenants are the religious leaders who are supposed to be watching over Israel. In the parable, servants are sent to the tenants to obtain some of the fruit from the vineyard, but the tenants—three times—beat the servants and send them away. These servants represent the prophets of Israel which were often ignored, beaten, and even killed by the nation of Israel.
Lastly, the owner sends his own “beloved son” but the tenants take him out of the vineyard and kill him. This part becomes a prophetic portion as Jesus is alluding to what is to come very soon. So what does this mean then for the tenants? Jesus says that the owner will destroy them and give the vineyard to “others.” The others here represent the Gentiles.
So this whole face-off between Jesus and the religious leaders has made them very upset, which leads into our next portion of Scripture. Embarrassed before the crowd, the scribes and chief priests could not let it go and so they try to ensnare Jesus yet again! Apparently they are slow learners. So they ask Jesus a question about taxes—which is still a hot button topic today in our society. And I’m sure they will be after I’m long gone. So let us take a look at this continuing conversation between Jesus and the religious leaders. If you have your Bibles with you, please turn with me to Luke 20, beginning in verse 19.
PRAY
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
PHARISEES (RELIGIOUS LEADERS) AND HERODIANS (POLITICAL LEADERS) WORK TOGETHER
In this passage we see a very interesting team-up between the religious and the political leaders here. While they both sought to see Jesus taken down, these two factions could not be more different. The Pharisees were very nationalistic in their stance; they, ironically, longed for the messianic kingdom and to see the Roman government overthrown.
The Herodians here had given themselves over to the Romans and served their government. The Pharisees were dedicated to conservative Judaism; the Herodians were more liberal in that regard. The Pharisees were what we would call “right-wingers” and the Herodians were “left-wingers.”
The Pharisees carefully and cautiously sought to resistance Rome and its rule and governing authority. The Herodians were all for it!
But here, they have come together because they had one thing in common. They HATED Jesus. But even the reasoning for their hatred differed! The Pharisees hated him because He was dividing up their own religious agenda. The Herodians hated Him because He posed such a great threat to their political agenda. So these differing groups of leaders have decided to come together in an attempt to take Jesus out.
Jesus has proven to be a formidable opponent thus far. Time and time again He has avoided their traps and attempts to cause Him to slip up. Time and time again, Jesus has instead caught them in their own traps and left the crowds marveling at His teachings. Jesus has become difficult to ensnare due to His strong support in the community. But even still, these leaders feel threatened and so they continue in their attempt to stop Him.
Here we see what is perhaps their greatest effort yet for this question certainly is a double edged sword—kind of like the one Jesus posed to them earlier when He asked if John the Baptist’s ministry was from God or from man.
But this time, these leaders begin their attempted entrapment with some vain flattery.
So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.
I once heard that flattery is the reverse image of gossip. It was put this way: “Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his face. Flattery is saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind his back.”
And this is exactly what this was. There were saying these words in an attempt to catch Jesus off guard. Let’s puff Him up before dropping the hammer, so to speak. But Jesus saw this for exactly what it was. Jesus is never caught off guard. Jesus is the Word incarnate and His Word has much to say in regard to flattery.
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.
A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Or as Charles Spurgeon so aptly puts it:
Flattery and friendship never go together.
Charles Spurgeon
But there is no good that comes from flattery. It’s very definition is that of “insincere praise.” And Jesus saw right through it and so He was prepared to receive their question and answer it accordingly.
Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness,
The religious and political leaders hoped that this double edged sword of a question would leave Him with no way out. You see, the tax issue was an explosive one for the Jews. In fact, it was such a large issue that it was one of the main reasons for the creation and rise of the sect known as the Zealots. There was an uprising a few decades before that came about in part because of the taxation system.
So if Jesus was to answer, “No, it is not right to give taxes to Caesar,” then He could—by Roman law—be arrested. The Herodians were lying in wait, ready to take word to Pilate if He said such a thing.
Rome was pretty lenient when it came to ones religious activity. They didn’t care what god you worshipped so long as it didn’t make waves. What they didn’t tolerate was any political issues or potential uprisings. And had Jesus said that taxes were wrong, another revolt could have been a real possibility with the people hanging on to His every word.
But if Jesus answered, “Yes, it is right to pay taxes to Caesar,” then there is a great chance the crowd would turn on Him for supporting their oppressors.
His detractors thought they had Him. You can almost sense their excitement, like a pack of coyotes surrounding their prey.
Seemingly ensnared, Jesus makes a profound statement that Has stuck with us for two millennia.
“Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The denarius was a small silver coin adorned by the the profile of Caesar. The insignia inscribed on the coin had a Latin phrase that translates to: Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus. The denarius was equivalent to about $50 today, and interestingly was the required payment by every man, woman, and child to the state of Rome just for simply existing and breathing air. And it could ONLY be paid with a denarius.
As Jesus turned the coin over in His hand, I imagine a hush fell over the crowd. The coin itself was an offense to the Jews since the inscription implied that Caesar was divine. To most it was considered a transgression of the second commandment.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
To the Jews, the coin itself was blasphemous. But what I love about how Jesus responds to this question is that He involves His detractors. He makes them pull out their own money. They, themselves, were carrying a denarius. And again, Jesus poses a question to first answer theirs. “Whose likeness and inscription does the coin have?”
“Caesar’s.”
And this sets up one of the greatest and most well known responses in the history of mankind. “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In fact, the response is SO profound that the religious and political leaders are left completely flabbergasted. “Marveling at his answer they became silent.” FINALLY! After all these questions seeking to entrap Jesus, they are left speechless. They have no idea how Jesus possibly avoided the landmines they placed, but He did it!
But for us this morning, it begs the question. What are the things that are Caesar’s and what are the things that are God’s?
WHAT IS CAESAR’S AND WHAT IS GOD’S?
So what is remarkable here is that the leaders could not argue with Jesus on the first part of His response. Because according to ancient tradition, any coins that carried the face of a leader where actually understood to be the property of that person. In other words, the coins were already Caesar’s and so they couldn’t object to this statement because how could you?
I would contend that it is this very statement from Jesus that leads Paul to write what he does in Romans 13, which we will look at in a moment. Peter would write something that also seems inspired by this statement.
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
In other words, the state is a valid institution, and the Bible teaches that we are to be subject to it. I think Richard Halverson—who served as a chaplain of the U.S. Senate—explained it well:
To be sure, men will abuse and misuse the institution of the State just as men because of sin have abused and misused every other institution in history including the Church of Jesus Christ; but this does not mean that the institution is bad or that it should be forsaken. It simply means that men are sinners and rebels in God’s world, and this is the way they behave with good institutions. As a matter of fact, it is because of this very sin that there must be human government to maintain order in history until the final and ultimate rule of Jesus Christ is established. Human government is better than anarchy, and the Christian must recognize the “divine right” of the State.
Please don’t misunderstand me. The State is far from perfect. We’ve seen its corruption and its limitations. But every manmade and man lead institution is imperfect because it is run and lead by sinners. Even the best intentioned and highest character people still mess up. But as Christians we are called to be subject to governing authority. This is what Paul said to—interestingly—the Roman church.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Paul also allows the church to understand that even if the authority is flawed and sinful, ultimately God is in control. God has allowed them to be positioned there for a reason.
Now I will say there are limits upon the authority of the state. While we are called to be premier examples and Christlike as citizens, there are times when the authority of God and His Word precede anything the state says or enforces.
The first, and we experienced this during the whole Covid ordeal, is that we as the church must resist when asked (or commanded) to violate a command of God. When the very laws that are put in place go against God’s call to our own lives. One such example of this is seen in Acts 4. The disciples were arrested for preaching the name of Jesus in the temple and are commanded to stop by the religious leaders.
But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
For them to stop would go against the very commission they were given by Jesus in Matthew 28. To go and make disciples of all nations and teaching them ALL that He had commanded them. Peter put it boldly and bluntly when they were arrested a second time.
saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Many of you may remember when the churches shut down during the Covid outbreak. There was a lot of uncertainty at the time to the seriousness and severity of this new virus outbreak. Many states even made laws requiring churches to shut their doors. Now, with the advancements in technology today, we were still able to get the word out.
It was pretty wild preaching into a computer camera every week and then posting it online. It certainly took the personal touch out of it. But it was something. But it also wasn’t what God calls us to.
So the elders of the church, after 6 weeks got together and called the church body to check in and see how everyone was doing. And the vast majority told us we miss Sundays. It’s not the same. We want to meet in person again.
Well, the state was saying we couldn’t meet, but we kept coming back to the words in Hebrews.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Then we see the example of the early church in Acts.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And Paul’s words to the Colossians.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And so after six weeks we opened the doors back up and never looked back. We did what we firmly believed God’s Word commands of us. We didn’t do it in any revolutionary or rebellious mindset. We simply did so in order to honor God and His Word.
So yes, the state has authority. God has allowed for this to be the case. And while it’s far from perfect, we—as Christians—must be a shining example of Christ as citizens that respect the laws put in place insofar as they do not impede the commands of the Word of God. Paul put it perfectly in his letter to Timothy.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
So, in other words, we do as Christ says. We rend to Caesar that which is Caesar’s. But what is more, we render to God the things that are God’s. So what is that exactly?
Well in the most simple of terms—it is us! We are God’s creation. I love the way theologian Joseph Fitzmyer puts it:
The coin belonged to Caesar because it bore his image and we are God’s because we bear His image!
So we render ourselves—our lives, our very being—to God. We live our lives entirely for Him and for His glory. But I also what to dig into this a little more, because this is common church language—made in God’s image. But what does that mean? This statement comes to us all they way back in Genesis 1 when God creates mankind.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
As a child I thought it meant that God had physical attributes we have. Legs, arms, eyes, ears, hair. But of course that isn’t it. We are made in God’s image in the sense that we are creators (although none apart from God are able to create something from nothing), we are relational, we are rational, we have dominion over His creation, and we are able to commune with God. These aspects set us apart from the rest of God’s creation. We bear His image and therefore belong to Him.
We are also aware that we are eternal beings. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that He has put eternity on man’s heart. Some also say our sense of morality reveals that we are made in God’s image. Of course, since the fall of man and the inception of sin, all of these aspects are imperfect now.
HAVE WE RENDERED TO GOD WHAT IS HIS?
So with this in mind, have we applied this lesson to our lives? This whole section has time and time again been about the authority of Christ. His prophetic entrance into the city, His driving out the money changers, and this whole face off with the religious leaders is about His authority. And so it comes back to it yet again, and perhaps because of our society today that has such issue with authority, this is absolutely necessary for us.
A few weeks ago I asked us, “Have we laid our cloaks before Jesus?” As He entered into the city the people laid their cloaks on the road before Him as a sign of their submission to His authority; to His reign.
Likewise, Jesus now calls for us to render ourselves to God.
What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
Or as the great reformer, John Calvin said:
The most holy service that we can render to God is to be employed in praising his name.
John Calvin (French Reformer)
Jesus’ words here leave us two questions: Whose image do we bear? The answer being God’s image.
Secondly, have we given to God the things that are God’s? And I think R. Kent Hughes hits the nail on head. He says:
If we think God just wants our money, we are wrong. If we think it is our time and talents he asks for, we are wrong. If we think it is our nearest and dearest he wants, we are wrong.
He wants us! We must give God what is God’s. We must give him our lives.
He will not settle for less than all. And if we resist him, we will not rest in this life.
And I can tell you there is such a great joy and freedom that comes when we loosen the grip of our lives and give them over to God. He has given me life, He has given me salvation. Therefore, I will give Him all of me. It is all I have to give and so I render myself to Him, for He alone is worthy. So let us render to God the things that are God’s.
PRAY
