Matthew 22 15-21
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 22.15-21
October 16, 2005
What Do You Really Want?
Introduction: What do you really want? What do you really want? These words are repeated often in our lives. It seems like a day doesn't go by when we are approached or called on phone buy a salesman. They ask us questions and we can tell right away who they are by their smooth talk. And we think to ourselves " what do you really want." Husbands and wives often find themselves in the same position. When we here the words - "honey, are you busy?" we know that our mate is not inquiring about the quality of our life. We think, "what do they really want. Kids think the same thing when they hear their parents say - " son, daughter, What are you doing?" They think, "what do they really want, am I in trouble?" In the back of our minds we have the feeling that we are being trapped. Trapped into buying something. Trapped into doing something or trapped by getting caught doing something we shouldn't have been doing. Sometimes questions are deceiving and sometimes they cover a trap.
The Pharisees were getting tired of Jesus. They no longer wanted their authority undermined. They were tired of Jesus interrupting their lives and they wanted control back. They thought that their lives would be so much better if Jesus wasn't around. So they sent their disciples to ask Him a question. It was during the week before Jesus was to be crucified. Jesus was teaching in the temple when the Pharisees disciples came with their question.
I. Their Motive Evil Intent - the Trap.
The question was of secondary in importance though. They weren't interested in information. They wanted to trap Jesus with His own words. Like cheese in a mouse trap they used appetizing words to try to catch Jesus off guard. They say,/// "Teacher we know that you are true and teach the way of God." Jesus reply is, " Why do you test Me, you hypocrites." In a manner of speaking Jesus says, "what do you really want?" He knew the evil intent of their hearts and the deceit in their spirits. He saw the trap that they were laying for Him.
II. Our Motive Evil Intent - the Trap.
When we read this text its so easy to quickly point an accusing finger at the deceitful Pharisees and then jump to the rest of the story - Jesus amazing answer of giving to Caesar what is Caesar's and giving to God what is God's. We tend to pass by their deceit and our own. We recognize the condition in other people but do not see it in ourselves. We don't recognize our syrupy speech calling Jesus the good teacher who speaks the truth, while in our own mind we are waiting for church to get over so we can get on with what we really want to do. We don't recognize when we say Lord, Lord and don't mean it. We don't recognize that we have our own agendas and ways that we like things done. Frankly Jesus sometimes just gets in the way of what we would rather be doing or rather be thinking. The temptation is always there to ask Jesus the question, "what have you really done for me anyway?" It sure would be easier to forget all this religion stuff. At times, it sure would be easier if you didn't exist in my life. As Christians
we are both sinners and saints. The sinner in us wants to set a trap for Jesus and just as the Pharisees wanted to get Jesus out of their lives by killing him, we to would like to keep Jesus out of parts of our lives.
III. Jesus Responds.
A. With the Truth.
Jesus responds to the Pharisees question. He didn't have to. In the face of their hypocrisy He has integrity and shows His great love and compassion toward them. He tells them the truth - "give unto Caesar what is Caesar's." This was nothing new. He merely stated the fourth commandment. "Thou shall honor thy father and thy mother. Honor those people that God has put over you as Martin Luther explains in the small catechism. These include all the Caesar's in our lives -,grandfathers,,grandmothers, teachers, bosses, governors and presidents. God has put these people over us for our well being.
B. With A Call to Faith.
Then Jesus says to them, " give to God what is God's. He looks into the faces of His would be trappers and with the incomprehensible love of the Son of God He calls them to faith. "Give to God what is God's" - He Tells them to give their burden of sin and self-righteousness to Him. Only He as God's Son can bear it. He calls them to faith, which is that most wonderful gift that God alone can give - He says believe in me, confess that I am you savior, trust me. You told me that what I say is true - now believe. They are amazed at His answer and they are silenced. As quietly as they came, they walk away, rejecting the gift of faith that was given to them. Rejecting His forgiveness, truth and love, they walk away.
He has called and continues to call you to faith. " Give to God what is God's. Confess your sins and give your burdens to Him. Believe and trust in Jesus alone for your salvation. You have been given the gift of faith. "Present yourselves as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship." (Rm, 12.1-2). The new man in you, the saint created in holiness and in the image of Jesus cries out. "I believe." Through God’s Spirit we live our lives according to the faith that we process. We no longer say one thing and mean another. We no longer just confess the faith we live it our in our lives. This is what is meant by Jesus words, “give unto God that which is God’s. You are God’s craftsmanship and you are bought with a price of God’s blood poured out for you on the cross.
C. By Stepping into the Trap.
The Pharisees set a trap for Jesus. He walked right into it knowing that it would kill Him. He walked into it for the Pharisees and He walked into it for you. Step by step, by His own choice, he became trapped on the cross. He was trapped by the sin of the world. He was trapped by your sin. He was trapped for your deceit and rejection of Him in your lives. God's wrath was poured out on Him instead of you.
Conclusion: We were trapped by the Devil, Hell, death and sin. We didn't even know it. Jesus took our place, taking the freedom that was His and giving it to us. He alone had the power to break the trap.
Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee
From deaths dread sting thy servants free
That we may live and sing to thee. Alleluia!