Grilling Jesus Pt 1

Matthew 22:15-46

Grilling Jesus Part 1, Taxed to Death 15-33

Tax Day 15-22, Death Day 23-33 then next week Lord willing Da’Greatest 34-40, Cook evenly (Flip it) 41-46

We have a lot of text to examine so we’ll go a little at a time. First let’s examine the menu and see “who” is on it. (Now, Jesus did say eat/drink, but this ain’t that) so we have the Pharisees, who were nationalists, hated the Roman’s, Hated Herod, Hated Herodians (those who supported Herod) etc. & they are gonna help each other try to cook Jesus. The sadducees are gonna jump in and a lawyer (scribe). Then there is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha & Omega, Jesus of Nazareth, Yahweh in the flesh.

Tax Day 15-22

Matthew 22:15 NKJV

Then the Pharisees went and plotted (devised a course of action) how they might entangle Him in His talk.

Entangle: παγιδεύω pagideuō ensnare; entrap. The root suggests setting up a trap. Trip Him up.

This is why we are told in (Ep 6:11), to watch out for the wiles (schemes) of the devil. He is not out to love you. But kill you.

If we are His image bearers, this explains the hate and murder aimed at those who truly walk in His name. If you live like the world, they will never attack. They “killed” Him, why wouldn’t they try to kill us? Or try to trip us up? Cause us to sin. Peter says the enemy seeks to devour. (1Pe 5:8)

So they are planning how to cook him

Matthew 22:16 NKJV

And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

Politics and religion make strange bedfellows. Here two parties that truly hated each other but they both hated Jesus more. Look at how they setup their coals.

Teacher - Didaskale - we might say they call him Rabbi, but i’m not sure. They may have used the greek and simply called him instructor. Matthew uses the term Rabbi numerous times. So we see though rabbi does mean teacher, its specifically in the vein of religious teachers with undue authority.

Sp: So it may be an off-handed way of saying teacher, without their honorific. Typical of political pundits, they flatter then assault. No respect.

Speaking of Pharisees/Rabbis Jesus said in Matthew 23:6–8  “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

You are true

You teach the Way of God in truth (remember to them it was the way, it was what you did, some though you didn't even have to believe per-se)

In his teaching in Jn 14:6, you know it did Jesus say he shows the WTL or He “is” the way?

Not a respecter of men (zero fear). this is the setup. Everyone around no doubt believes what they say.

Matthew 22:17 NKJV

17 Tell us, therefore, since you so smart what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

What a twisted question. One group (most of the people) hated Rome. The other (Herodians asking) found it a positive. Either answer condemns

Matthew 22:18–21 NKJV

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21a They said to Him, “Caesar’s.””

(“Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus” on one side and “pontifex maximus”—which Jesus would understand as “high priest”—on the other)

Now the fact that the pope is called this raises lots of questions but lets not get caught in that trap. This is directly a pagan title and it offended the Jews greatly.

His answer is more than most would want to think of.

Matthew 22:21 NKJV

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

This is more than just hey be obedient to your government. Because Yahweh sets even the pagan kings on thrones

Proverbs 8:15  “ By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.” Daniel 2:21  “ And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.” 1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

The jewish leaders were too caught up in their theocratic “right” to govern. The couldn't see accepting the taxes and rule of rome, the only way they could rationalize it, was to recognize, they were under divine judgement. Which they refused to accept. Jesus is telling them not another law, but a truth, but a truth of living as pilgrims in a land of those under judgement. Peter and Paul would tell the church, be submitted and remember what land you belong to. (Ro 13:1–7; 1 Pe 2:13–17) This isnt about politics. Its about your heart.

Jesus lays down a way for us the Church to make it in this world. Though His reply is so profound, they refuse again, to submit and…

Later they would lie about this encounter. Because they refuse to see the truth, they like all are sinners in need of His grace. Luke 23:2  “ And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.””

Now lets go from Tax Day

Death Day 23-33

So, the Sadducees were the religious liberals of the day. Hearing what they want to hear. They didn't believe in angels, spirits, resurrection. They saw the scriptures as myth and moral tales. They refused to see the truth, that if there were truly a God, they would know these things though they cant see them are true. They have no faith. Faith comes by? Hearing by? Right, the Word (Ro 10:17)

Matthew 22:23–28 NKJV

23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

First off, they recognize that a man was not free to marry a woman who was married to another. They refer to Deuteronomy 25:5 ““If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.”

(HTT Ro 7) They saw (in the flesh) that they she was free to marry because her husband died. So in this life, everything going on here is in accordance with the law. But death freed her. They were no longer one flesh

Paul made the point and connected to our life in Christ: Romans 7:6  “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”

Because they only see “heaven” as a promise of rewards for this life, they don’t get the logic of it. Lets see how Jesus answers & we’ll explore a bit more of this encounter.

Matthew 22:29 NKJV

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

He begins the answer with two statements based on them being deceived, led astray, in error by two reasons.

#1 They don’t know the Word. Liberal preachers today still mistreat the word, misquote Him, use Him out of context and dismiss entire books of scripture. This is Gods Word. 1 Peter 1:25  “ But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

#2 (and 1) Don’t know the Power. The resurrection was a common doctrine with the Pharisees and most scribes - Psalm 16:8–11  “ I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; David would come to know this wasnt a direction but a “Who” In Your presence is fullness of joy; who dwells in us? At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Who is at the right hand?

Because of this, the resurrection is wholly dependent on whether God (who breathed life in a man of clay) would be able to bring and keep intact, the never ending spirits of men.

Peter preaches: Acts 2:25 “ For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.” Acts 2:31 “ he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”

John 20:9  “ For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”

Matthew 22:30–33  “ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.”

1 John 3:2  “ Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Jesus relates that the statement of Yahweh is not just a historical reference but a present truth. For a myriad of reasons. When he told Moses Exodus 3:15  “ Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’” I AM is the present tense. Not I was. But even now, they worship me.

They saw Past Patriarchs, God sees living Men. They were with Him even then.

Thus ends our first part in the Grillin’ of Jesus, but I encourage you, go read the entire chapters of the scriptures we quoted, be blessed by the Word, come to know what your Lord has given you. And trust. Trust that the One who rose from the dead, will also raise us up when we “sleep”.