What Do You Owe God

Scripture:

Matthew 22:15-22

New King James Version

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 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 [a]regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus [b]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?”

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, “Render[c] therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

Introduction

it is providential that we are in this text today. As we are in the stages of early voting with election day just a couple weeks away.

As we talk about our obligation to vote especially in our Black and Brown communities. Many of our ancestors have been beaten and die to secure our rights to vote.

We have many obligation to preform for out government; from jury duty, paying taxes, to voting. While me might like some more than other, of even if we feel it does not benefit our lives directly we must carry out our obligation/duties. We must give what the government ask or if we don’t we might have to pay some negative consequences.

While we make every effort to give what is owe to the government I wonder how many of us are as committed to given what is owe to God or even know what is owed to God. If you do not pay taxes and pay them when they are due you can not plead ignorance. What would happen is that you still need to pay what is do and the penalty that goes with it and if you can not pay it all at once you are charge interest as long as you owe. If you still don’t pay they can freeze your bank account and if that don’t work they can send you to jail.

What does it say about us and what we think of God when we are careful to pay what is ask of the government but ignore what is owe to God. How many of us is claiming ignorance when it comes to what is owe to God?

I believe this text for today has a lot to say on this matter. Now don’t get me wrong like Jesus says we must Render unto Caesar what belong to Caesar but we also must Render unto God what is God.

This passage of today teaches us a lot of important things; for me today the most important truth is that with all of our obligation in life the most important is that we Render what is owe to God. While there are a couple of things we owe God the must important is our lives.

Conflict

Over the last couple of weeks we been looking at the Gospel of Matthew and the confrontation between Jesus and the religious leader and rulers of Jerusalem.

Today we see that the Pharisees have with them the Herodians. Now while the Pharisees despise the Roman empire the Herodians was just the opposite they were trying find ways to get alone with the Roman empire and expect their rule of them. In others words these two groups was on opposite side and didn’t get alone.

That was until they found out they had a common enemy. You know the saying “The Enemy of My Enemy is my friend.

They got together and made a plan to entrap Jesus. The Greek word here that is translated entrapme is use when talking about trapping a animal.

Also notice that the Pharisees did not confront Jesus directly they send their disciple along with the Herodians.

This was to lure just into a false sense of security. Believing that if the question was pose by up and coming leaders Jesus would fall more easily in the the entrapment.

Also notice how the disciple of the Pharisees start the conversation off; “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 [a]regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? “

To start with Teacher is to show their respect for Jesus

And what you teach is only the truth of God

And you do not let me to stop you from telling the truth of God no matter how unpopular that Truth might be.

So Jesus we depending on you tell us the Truth.

Now the question that was given to him as “Now tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

The question was given that the only answer that could be given is yes or no.

Not this is the trap the the Pharisees and Herodians has set for Jesus.

A black or white question no gray area

If Jesus say yes if is lawful he will have the Jewish people mad because they were paying taxes to a foringeer and secondly they was not even receiving anything back from paying taxes.

No better roads no better schools the Romans pocket was getting fat and they were becoming poorer.

Secondly if he answer no than the Roman would see him as committing Treason.

Now mind you that Jesus is all knowing so he know what they was up to.

And as only Jesus could do he let them know that he was not new to this. He might been born at night but not last night.

So Jesus response to them with the statement “Why are you testing me you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax”

What Jesu is saying here with his response is that you might be able to fool people with what in your heart, but you can not fool me. I see and know your true nature.

that why it is important to confess our sins and repent of our hearts because Jesus knows the true you.

In our repentance he can change us he can bring us into a new light. by revealing what is true and right.

Good News

After Jesus received the coin that is use to pay the tax. He ask who picture is on the coin.

They when they reply with to Jesus question they answer their own question.

Have you ever ask a question that you already knew the answer to or have anyone every ask you a question that they already knew the answer? They just want to hear what you had to say.

When they answer it is Cesar on the coin he response with “Than Render unto Cesar what is Cesar! It his coin anyway give it back to him.

This is the part of the passage that most people focus on. Yes we are called by God to fulfil our obligation to the government which God has call us to live.

For Roman 13:1-7 says

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor (Romans 13:1-7).

But let us not stop right there for Jesus went on the say “And Render unto God what is God’s

To Render

to furnish for consideration, approval, or information:

to give in return or retribution

to give back, restore

to cough up,

to deliver

to give up,

to hand over, to lay down,

to relinquish,

to surrender,

to turn in, to turn over, to yield

But what belongs to God

See we owe God everything.

John 3:16 says

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Jesus paid it all

Jesus who had no sin bare our sin so we may have eternal life and we should be set free from death.

Romans 6:13 says

Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. ...

We owe God a life that is a living sacrifice. We do this through our tithes, offerings, gifts, time, talents, possessions, etc.

The question for today what have you Render to God and what do you need to Render to God?