This is the 15th post as I attempt to visit everything (pretty much!) Jesus said about money in the gospels over 2 weeks. In order to do this I will be putting up around two posts each day. This is coinciding with a 2-week preaching series that we are going through at Community Church Putney- Jesus On Money.
Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him
in his words. 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. Tell us then, what is your
opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent,
said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for
paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image
is this? And whose inscription?”
“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.” When they heard this, they
were amazed. So they left him and went away.’
These religious teachers are attempting
to trap and discredit Jesus. Will he side with the Romans (Pay taxes) and lose
the Jewish crowds, or will He side with the Jews (refuse to pay taxes) and face
the wrath of Rome?
Jesus' answer is a statement of faith in
the sovereignty of God- He has placed rulers in their positions of power and
they were to be obeyed through the paying of taxes.
But, Jesus' answer is also a statement of
potential disobedience as they were to render unto God what is Gods; if earthly
rulers overstep God’s will, one is to refuse them and obey God’s will entirely!
A key to a successful life is giving
ourselves entirely to God and obeying state and other authorities all the while
they don’t ask us to contravene God’s will.
‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him
and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.’
(Romans 11:35-36)
Take a moment to ask God to search you:
Have you given to God what is God’s? Are you rendering obedience to God
in every area of your life including your use of money?
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