Matthew 22:15-46

The 4 Questions

In this text we will find 4 questions:

3 of the 4 were asked to trap Jesus

1 was Jesus questioning their beliefs

In this text we have 3 influential Jewish groups

The Pharisees, The Herodians and the Sadducces.

Lets read the first question:

Matthew 22:15–22 NLT

Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply amazed them, and they went away.

The first question:

Is it lawful (right) to pay taxes to Ceasar, or not?

This is a legal question about the law.

This is a righteous question about what is right .

The Pharisees and the Herodians try to trap Jesus with this question. This question was a divisive question. one the Herodians and the Pharisees argued about.

They have observed Jesus and because he didn’t seem to worry about the government or those “over” the Jews, they looked for a question they could argue with Jesus over.

Who were the The Pharisees?

The Pharisees were highly influential with the people, known for authoritative law interpretations. and maintained a simple lifestyle. They focused on interpreting and applying the Torah for everyday life, placing great value on oral traditions concerning ritual purity and tithing. They believed in the survival of the soul after death, with potential punishment or reward in another life.

Pharisees focus:

Interpreting and applying the law. They believed this is how they earned their righteousness.

They valued their righteousness.

Their righteousness gave them prestige and influence in the Jewish community.

Jesus questioned their belief system.

They despised the Romans and wanted them gone.

Who were The Herodians

The Herodians were a political group of Jews who supported the Herodian dynasty. The term likely originated during King Herod I’s time and described members of the ruling class who owed their status and wealth to Herod and his relationship with the imperial family4. They were associated with and loyal to Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 BC to AD 39, though their allegiance was a minority position.

The Herodian Focus:

Influence and position within the government. Herod was their man. He was their way to power.

They also helped Rome collect taxes.

They didn’t want to disrupt Rome but felt that they could use Rome and still follow the law and be righteous.

So Back to the question

Was it Right for them to pay taxes?

Jesus answers their question with a question.

Show me the tax money… a denarius.

Whose Image and name is on it?

Jesus’s wisdom tells us to look at the coin; whose image is on it? Ceasar.

So give to Caesar what belong’s to Ceaser and give to God what belongs to God.

What belong’s to Ceasar? and what belongs to God?

What has God’s image and name on it? What has been redeemed by God through Jesus? What carries eternal value?

You and Me we do!

We are to give ourselves to God!

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

We are to focus our heart mind and soul on Jesus. He is the way the truth and the life.

Nothing else in this life can provide such hope and love.

The Pharisees and Herodians had their own interest to protect.

They were trying to figure out a way to not give taxes and still be “righteous”

Looking for an easy way out? They don’t really exist.

Think about the Bible story of Daniel and His friends.

Examples: Daniel whose name means “God is my Judge” had his name changed to Beltashazzar meaning “May Marduk guard his life .” and His friends, Hananiah whose name was changed to Shadrach meaning “the servant of sin” - Mishael whose name was changed to Meshach meaning “the shadow of the prince” and Azariah whose name was changed to Abendnego whose name means “servant of Nebo”

Imagine how much the world surrounding these guys affected their lives in a spiritual, personal and civic way.

They Gave themselves to God even as they served the king of this world.

They became Salt and Light to the dark world they lived in.

We are called to be Salt and Light to the world.

We can only do this if we give ourselves totally to God.

Give yourself to God! Give your whole self! Hold nothing back!

Question number 2

Matthew 22:23–33 NLT

That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’ Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow. But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them. Last of all, the woman also died. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.” Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven. “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.

Whose Wife will she be in the resurrection?

The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead so this question was again pointed at proving how absurd the idea of resurrection is.

Who were the Sadducees?

Sadducees​ (Religious Group) were one of the three main Jewish schools of thought during the Hellenistic and Roman eras. The Sadducees were noted for strict adherence to the Law of Moses and a rejection of both the notions of resurrection and spirits.

So Jesus first sets the record straight as far as their knowledge and information about the scriptures and the Power of God.

There will NOT be Marriage in the resurrection But There will be a RESURRECTION!

GOD IS THE GOD OF THE LIVING NOT THE DEAD

God is the giver of life! In him we have life and all death is defeated!

God has the power to raise us up from the dead and give us eternal life.

If there is no resurrection there is no life after death so then God could not be the God of Abraham ,Isaac and Jacob if they are dead. Because God is the God of the Living not the dead.

Death has been defeated. It no longer holds power over us. Today we can choose… Life or death…

Do not get distracted by trivial matters that really do nothing to draw us closer to God and Life.

Major in the Majors of the Gospel and keep the minors, minor in your life. There are a lot of things we don’t know.

What we do know is there is resurrection power in Jesus. The kind of power that brings us back to life and restores our soul.

Allow God’s Resurrecting power to work in you and give you everlasting life!

Question number 3

The Pharisees/Lawyer

Now we have an expert of the law questioning Jesus about the Law.

Matthew 22:34–40 NLT

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?

what a great question.

What is the most important law?

“You Must Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind”

Here is a recurring theme. This one a little different. Cause to follow laws is a choice but the heart didn’t have to be part of it.

Now Jesus “commands” us to Love God with everything we have.

Love is a choice. Today you and I can make this choice.

the second:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Again a command, It is our choice!

We are called to choose to love people!

Question number 4

He then ends the text with a question for the Pharisees to answer which they couldn’t.

His question is about their understanding of who He was.

Matthew 22:41–46 NKJV

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?

This is a great question because why would we give ourselves to God, and allow His Resurrection Power to work in us, and choose to Love Him and People with all our hearts if we do not know Him?

Whose son was He?

They answered David. Not understanding that He was actually the Son of God!

Jesus then explains using David’s own words in the scriptures

If David calls the Christ “Lord” then how can the Messiah be Davids son?

Open your Heart to Know Who Jesus is today. He is ready to reveal himself to you today if you will ask Him to.

Once you open your heart to Him:

Give yourself wholly to Him

Allow His Work to Begin in your Life

Love Him with all your Heart

Love your neighbor as yourself