"Do Justice Give Back To God"

Giving back is one of the things we often hear from an athlete or someone who never had much and was supported by someone, community, or result of some athletic accomplishment. That person goes on to make it very successfully and financially. Then that persons desires to give back to the community, or another individual, and by doing so helps another person who starts out with very little.

Is that what Jesus is talking about in todays lesson Giving back? Give back to God the things that are Gods.

1. We find in The text Pharisees trying to entrap Jesus

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. [16] “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,

2. The Pharisees want to know about taxes actually they are asking a question to Entrap him if he says yes to pay taxes to Ceaser then the Jewish nation will be upset, if he says no then the Roman Authority could have him killed. Jesus comes up with a brilliant response.

[17] is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” [18] But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me [19] Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, [20] and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” [21] “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.” [22] …

3. Give back to God what is Gods So what can we give back to God?

We give back to God justices for all that is what our pledge to alligence says, " with liberty and justice for all"

Isn't that what identifies America ? It also identifies Christianity

rights and privileges are accessible to everyone under the law--age, race, gender, economic status notwithstanding. Nothing other than justice matters when it comes to receiving justice.

Justice for all is an identity of Christianity

In the Scripture, gifts to the poor are called “acts of righteousness,” as in Matthew 6:1-2. Not giving generously, then, is not stinginess but unrighteousness, a violation of God’s law. In the book of Job, we see Job call every failure to help the poor a sin, offensive to God’s splendor (Job 31:23) and deserving of judgment and punishment (v. 28). Remarkably, Job is asserting that it would be a sin against God to think of his goods as belonging to himself alone. To not “share his bread” and his assets with the poor would be unrighteous, a sin against God, and therefore by definition a violation of God’s justice.

Yes, we give back to God by doing justice for all.

4. We give back to God by "Doing Justice to God"

St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, In both his Confessions and The City of God, Augustine found the theme of justice a recurring one he said, "remove justice, and what are kingdoms but large-scale gangs of criminals?" In Augustine's commentary on today's gospel text, -giving to God what is God's. Augustine insists that when we truly succeed in "giving to God what is God's," we are, in his words, "doing justice to God."

"Doing justice to God." What a strange phrase. What could it mean?

We return to God dues that are needing to be paid

5. I think doing justice to God is being kind to others

Ephesians says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Peter says, "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

6. I think doing justice to God is forgiving others Collosians says, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Matthew says, "12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "

15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.."

7. I think doing justice to God is loving others

Jesus says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

Jesus also said, "How will the world know you are my disciples it for the love you have for one another"

8. I think doing justice to God is having Compassion for others

Today's text there is no compassion from the religious leaders they are so caught up in self they see no need to give justice.