Sermon # 6 - Image Of God Series

We read in Matthew 22:20, He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” (WEB)

Jesus asked many questions to people in several situations, and we are meditating on a few of them. The question that we are considering is from the above mentioned verse where Jesus asked “Whose is this image and inscription?”

The leaders sought to trap Jesus

In order to understand a little background, let us read Mark 12:13, The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of Herod's followers to Jesus. They wanted to trap him into saying the wrong thing. (GW)

The religious leaders in Jesus’ time sought to trap Jesus in His words, and therefore they sent others to question Him. On the surface they appeared to be sincere, but their intentions were false. They did not realize who Jesus was, and so assumed that He too was another teacher like the many other Rabbis who lived in those days.

Even today if we are not cautious, we too can be ambushed by some whose only intention is to make us falter in our faith. These are those who are crafty in their speech, and use it to their own advantage. If we engage in conversations with such people, they can destroy the foundations of our faith in the Lord. We need wisdom that Jesus had, to discern if someone is sincerely seeking or is simply pretentious.

Depend on God’s wisdom and His strength

We read in Proverbs 26:12, Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (GW)

Anyone who thinks they are wise in their own understanding, are most pitiable for the word of God says there is more hope for a fool that for such a person. We must desire to be obedient to the word of God, depend on His divine wisdom, and never consider ourselves wise in our own eyes.

We also read in 1 Corinthians 1:25, For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength. (GNB)

There are two parts of this verse, one that talks about the power of our mind, and the other that explains about the physical strength. If we were to compare God’s wisdom with man’s, the foolishness of God is far wiser than man’s wisdom. So also the weakness of God, if at all there is, is far greater than the greatest strength that man possesses.

When the people of Israel were confronted with the tenacious city of Jericho on their way to possess the Promised Land, the counsel that God gave to them was to just walk around the walls of the city. Jericho represented the enormous strength of man, who in order to build it had to use his wisdom and prowess. The method God used to bring down the mighty walls of Jericho, was to simply praise the Lord, which was in total contradiction to human understanding. The shouts of the people in praise was enough for the Lord to demolish, the impassable walls of mighty Jericho.

The instructions of the Lord may seem unreasonable to our so called logical minds, but when the Lord admonishes us to do something, we should do so without any questions or doubts. Today science has advanced and the methods of ultra sound is used to identify all sorts of malfunctions in most of our vital organs, and also used to break down kidney stones. Thousands of years ago God used this technology of sound to bring down the walls of Jericho. Many think that anesthesia is an invention of modern medicine, but in the Garden of Eden the Lord brought a deep sleep on Adam before He removed his rib to form Eve out of it. The wisdom of God is revealed all through scripture, and all of the knowledge we have finds its source in God alone.

Goliath confronted the Israelite army, and belittled them. When the entire army ran away in fear, David, a young shepherd boy decided to go against him, with an ordinary sling and a few pebbles. He went in the strength of the Lord, and a simple sling and stone were enough for the Lord to bring about a mighty victory for His people. The strength and wisdom of human beings can never stand before the might, and wisdom of our Almighty God. If we have the Lord’s wisdom and His strength there will be no problem that we cannot face, and no hardship that we cannot overcome. Let us decide to rely entirely on the Lord, and not on any of our human skills or achievements.

The question about paying taxes

We read in Matthew 22:17, So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" (GW)