RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP DOES NOT VIOLATE OUR OBLIGATION TO GOD, BUT RATHER IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT HIGHER AUTHORITY
Introd.: Examine diff. viewpoints regarding the separation of church and state Issue: the obligation of believers to God's kingdom vs. our obligation to the state Specific issue here is paying taxes, but that only represents the larger issue
1. The Trap -- Viewing our Obligation to God and Our Obligation to the State as Mutually Exclusive (:13-14)
a. Strange bedfellows plan the trap (:13)
1) Context
The goal of the religious leaders was to publicly discredit Jesus with the people and with the Roman government
2) The strange bedfellows defined: a mixed group of Pharisees and Herodians
3) Sneaky goal -- trying to get Jesus to say something they could use against Him
b. They Bait the trap with Flattery and False Pretenses (:14a)
c. They spring the trap by presenting 2 wrong choices and demanding that Jesus pick one or the other
Transition: Jesus did not fear traps, but viewed them as opportunities to turn the tables and teach important principles
2. Turning the tables -- challenging the conscience with our true obligation -- both to the State and to God (:15-17)
a. Exposed their Pretense
b. Examined their Promise
c. Explained the Principle
