Sermon Tone Analysis

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In criminal law, entrapment is a practice whereby a law enforcement agent or agent of the state induces a person to commit a criminal offense that the person would have otherwise been unlikely or unwilling to commit.[1]

It "is the conception and planning of an offense by an officer or agent, and the procurement of its commission by one who would not have perpetrated it except for the trickery, persuasion or fraud of the officer or state agent."

In the U.S. entrapment was first recognized as a legal defense in 1932 during the time of Prohibition.

A certain undercover agent visited a man in North Carolina who was rumored to be a rum-runner.

The agent was introduced as being a fellow Veteran, having served in WW1.

At several times during an hour and a half of conversation and reminiscing the agent asked Sorrells if he would be so kind as to get a fellow soldier some liquor.

Sorrells initially refused, but later wore down and procured him a half-gallon bottle of whiskey for $5. Martin then arrested him for violating the National Prohibition Act.

Sorrels was convicted and sent to prison.

He appealed his conviction, but the sentence was upheld in the lower courts.

Eventually this case made it to the Supreme Court, who recognized for the first time that entrapment was a valid legal defense.

Obviously entrapment was not invented in 1932, it was just recognized as a legal defense at that time.

But the practice of it is as old as the ages.

In our series, ONE VERY LONG DAY, we have recently looked at three distinct parables which Jesus told with the purpose of rebuking the religious establishment of Israel.

Having been soundly rebuked, the hypocritical leaders took offense.

And over the course of the next three messages in our study we will look at ways in which the religious leaders sought to trap Jesus in what He said.

This morning, as we go through the first entrapment episode, we will look at the reason for pursuing this operation, the means they used in this operation, the goal of the operation, the reason for the failure of this mission, the way in which Jesus avoided entrapment, and then finally principles that can be drawn from Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees on that day.

First, let’s read our passage together.

The Reason for the Operation

He “Dissed” Them

Jesus disdained the Pharisees

Jesus had no respect for the Pharisees

They Resented the Implications of the Three Parables

Sinners would receive preference of the religious establishment in the kingdom of God due to their unbelief

The religious establishment would lose its role as shepherds of God’s people

The religious establishment would be judged for its rejection of Christ which would allow gentiles to have a place in the kingdom

The Means of Operation

Enlistment of “Flunkies”

The Use of Strange Bedfellows

Flattery Gets You Nowhere

John Smith is still the most common name in this country.

It was for that reason that Mark Twain dedicated his story of The Celebrated Jumping Frog to John Smith, “who I have known in diverse and sundry places and whose many and manifold virtues did always command my esteem.”

Twain figured that anyone to whom a book is dedicated would be sure to buy at least one copy, and since there were thousands of John Smiths, his book would be assured of at least a modest sale.

The disciples of the Pharisees used flattery toward Jesus in vs. 16 as a way of trying to get Him to fall into their trap.

The things they said were true enough, but they didn’t really believe them to be true of Christ.

“Teacher” — a term of highest respect

“You are truthful” (Or true)

“You … teach the way of God in truth”

“You … defer to no one”

“You are not partial”

The Operation Goal

Force Jesus to Take a Side

Show Himself a traitor to the nation of Israel

Show Himself a revolutionary leading a revolt against Rome

Why the Goal was not Met

Jesus is God

Omniscient

Searches the heart and motives of man

Jesus is Wisdom Personified

How Jesus Avoided Entrapment

His Wise Response

What Christ did not address:

He did not address the scope of possession

Either the things that belong to Caesar or the things that belong to God

He did not address the relationship between the these things

Implications of Christ’s Answer:

God Owns Everything

The things that belong to Caesar belong derivatively

Everything Caesar has is because God “owns” Caesar

Caesar’s sphere is limited

God’s sphere is total

The Shaping of the Sphere

Caesar’s sphere and our allegiance to it are shaped by God’s superior possession

Husbands have a derived authority from the Lord, just as government leaders do.

But it is clear that God’s authority is far superior to anyone’s derived authority.

An Act of Worship

Our rendering to Caesar is an act of worship to God

The Principles Jesus Taught

Obligations

Christians have a moral and spiritual obligation to pay their taxes

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They also have an obligation to pray for governmental leaders, regardless of whether the like their policies or not

Limitations

Governmental leaders do not have the right to demand worship from their constituents – worship belongs to God alone

Closing Song: #311

Hallelujah, What a Savior!