God and Caesar
Notes
Transcript
We learned people were seeking to trap Jesus — Matthew 21:46
46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
We have seen their inability to trap him either in word or deed.
Now we go further up the ladder of society to disciples from members of the Sanhedrin Council who seek to trap him.
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.
16 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.
17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?
19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,
20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “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.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
This is the word of God…
It is interesting to me that the Chief priest and elders failed so the Pharisees send their disciples to do what others had failed to do.
The Imperial Tax
The Imperial Tax
The Pharisees opposed Roman rule of the Herods.
Here in our passage we see political rivals team up to trap Jesus
A common enemy makes strange be fellows.
The question is it right to pay the imperial Tax?
The imperial tax was an annual tax levied for the treasury of the Roman Emperor
Jews also had their own taxes to pay for the temple treasury so this was a sore point for many in Jewish society
I imagine the crowd was leaning in to listen to how Jesus was going to respond to this question
Pharisees disciples, “We’ve got him now!”
A denarius was the coin used to pay the tax.
A coin that bearing the image of Caesar
Where as Jewish coins did not bear the image of their kings.
They were exposed
They were exposed
Jesus saw through the trap
“Knowing” — to have knowledge acquired through observation
Jesus observed what they were thinking in this question before he gives his answer.
Hypocrites” — a person who professes beliefs and opinions that a person does not hold in order to conceal their real feelings and motives.
A pretender, an actor. Think the masks in Greek plays
The Pharisees worked very hard to conceal their appearance.
To appear more righteous and religious than the average person.
Jesus always saw through their masks he looked straight into their heart.
They even used flattery to tempt Jesus — Matthew 22:16-17
16 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.
Develop this point
Whose Image?
Whose Image?
Jesus asks that someone give him a denarius
Whose image does it bear?
The image is of caesar, this is a Roman coin so give it to its owner
The other half of the the statement “give to God what is God’s”
In society for the temple — firsts and tithes belong to God
The next logical question for Jesus to give is, “Whose image is on you?”
We bear the image of God — Genesis 1:27
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Then give to God what is God’s — Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
We belong to God, we bear His image
We should be willing to give our life to him
There was no response from the Pharisees, what could they say.
They were amazed — they were astonished
It was the wisest thing to be said
The answer does not satisfy either group
It functions like a riddle given their Jewish theology
God has dominion over all and claims ownership
Yet Caesar also claimed dominion and ownership over all
They left, in my mind I see their heads down.
They failed, noting left but to go away.
Conclusion
Jesus is telling us the same thing
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Give to the government what belongs to them so we pay our taxes, our money bears the image of leaders and the seal of the untied states.
God does not want those things he wants us — Philippians 3:8-9
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
The things of this world are garbage compared the to the surpassing knowledge of Christ.
Ask yourself again, “Whose image is on me?”
