Holy Wednesday
Theme: Caesar or God?
Text: Luke 20:20-26
Introduction: Conflict between the monarchs and the spiritual leaders was a time-old problem. The spiritual could be arrested for condemning the political leaders, and systems. Politicians saw the religious leaders as a threat to their survival and existence. Herod killed James. Ahab chased Elijah. Jeremiah was thrown into the pit. Here the Priests and spiritual heads were trying to bring a problem to Jesus. The spies pretended to be honest. The posed question looks like a genuine one. But their intention was to put Jesus into trouble. They wanted to trap him so that they could arrest him and bring disgrace and shame on him.
According to the site bible.org, Luke cites three elements in this passage, such as guile, government, and God. I would like to say that we must avoid religious hypocrisy, submit to a proper government authority, and submit to God is the message from this passage. This passage has the Hypocrisy of the leaders, responsibilities towards Government, and relationship with God in daily life. We can say Hypocrisy, democracy, and Theocracy.
1. Hypocrisy of Leaders
The gospel writers of Matthew and Mark expressed that the Herodians and the Pharisees were against one another but joined as one force to eradicate Jesus. The Herodians supported Herod to rule over Israel. Pharisees hated Herod and those who backed him. But to get rid of Jesus, Herodians and Pharisees had teamed up and sent some spies to trap Jesus with a question designed cunningly.
The Pharisees, teachers of the law, and the chief priest sent spies to Jesus who “pretended to be sincere.” This word for “pretend” is the Greek word hypokrinomai, (from hupo = under in sense of secrecy + krino = to judge means to make belief, to make-believe with the intent to deceive) which means to “be a hypocrite.” It means to act a certain part. To be something you’re not.
The spies started with flattery. Historically, flattery has been used as a standard form of discourse when addressing a king or queen. Flattery is the reverse mirror-image of gossip. Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his face. Flattery is saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind his back. Like politicians, preachers are peculiarly susceptible to flattery. It is professional titillation (Hughes).
“A flattering mouth works ruin” (Proverbs 26:28). “Whoever flatters his neighbors is spreading a net for his feet” (Proverbs 29:5). “May the LORD cut off all flattering lips” (Psalm 12:3). It’s easy to scoff at the inconsistency of these religious leaders, but we need to look within and admit that we’re all prone to hypocrisy. It lurks in all of our hearts because we’re all disposed to want to look good to others, while we forget about what God sees (Steven Cole).
Jesus was "no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34). The Lord did not adjust His message based on the kind of response He received or who He was talking to. He did not equivocate because of human opinion or possible consequences (MacArthur).
The question was tricky. “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” The idiomatic question that is "on the horns of a dilemma" is having to choose between two things, both of which are unpleasant or difficult. It was a Captious question. It was tending to find and call attention to faults. Intended to entrap or confuse, as in an argument.
If Jesus answered, “Yes,” the Pharisees would accuse Him of being soft towards Rome and certainly not being the Messiah who could deliver the nation from Rome’s hated sovereignty. If Jesus answered, “No,” the Herodians would report to Pilate as Jesus being opposed to Caesar’s rule, thus guilty of sedition.
Here the Jews were not discussing the legality of paying poll tax to Caesar, but whether a Jew should do so in view of his theocratic relationship to God. They pressed for an answer, yes or no as if there were no other possible answers (Ref: preceptaustin).
The Herodians were trying to trap Jesus into making an unpatriotic statement. Either He would have to oppose the law of the land, the hated Roman taxation, and thus be unlawful; or He would have to favor the taxation and be a traitor to His own people. They were like "malicious" hunters trying to trap Jesus like one would ensnare a bird or hook a fish.
2. Responsibility towards Government
Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So, Jesus slipped out of their trap (ref: NET-preceptaustin).
Christians in a country like India, and Asian countries are struggling with Government rules and regulations. They are confused over the tax laws and government. But one thing is true God and Caesar each have legitimate realms of authority with corresponding responsibilities.
Paul explains says “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1). He further narrates that the government “is a minister of God” (Romans 13:4). Paul wrote this statement during the regime of the godless emperor Nero. So, we are not free to disobey or rebel against wicked rulers unless they command us to violate God’s higher law. Peter says, “honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17).
Paul urged disciples to “tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom.” (Romans 13:7). We must pay tax as good stewards, and also take advantage of legitimate tax deductions. It is wrong to cheat taxes even if “everyone else does.” We should not withhold a portion of our taxes because we disagree with how the government spends it.
Paul knew that there were three taxes: Ground Tax (Made up of 10% of all the grain and 20% of all the wine and fruit produced). Income Tax (1% of a man’s income). Poll Tax (A flat tax of one denarius -a day’s wage- was paid by all men from 14 to 65 years of age and to all women between the ages of 12 to 65).
Wiersbe comments "Governmental authority is instituted by God and must be respected (Proverbs 8:15; Daniel 2:21, 37-38; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Pe 2:11-17).
Christ’s disciples have the responsibility of praying for kings and all who are in authority (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).
In our democratic form of government, our minimum responsibility as Christian citizens is that we must exercise the right to vote.
Paul preached the gospel to Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, with their wives (Acts 24:10-23, 26; 25:23; 26:1-29). He led many in Caesar’s household to faith in Christ (Philippians 1:13; 4:22).
Counsel the government authorities. Daniel counselled Nebuchadnezzar to turn from his sins and to do right (Daniel 4:27). John the Baptist exposed Herod’s sin of taking his brother’s wife (Luke 3:19). Paul spoke with Felix and his wife about “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25).
3. Relationship with God
Jesus asked for a coin and found the inscriptions. One side read, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus.” The other side read, “Pontifex Maximus” (“Chief Priest”).
Just as Caesar had sole authority to issue coins stamped with his image, so God is the only one who creates human beings stamped with His image. We owe God our very existence. He rightfully owns us, our possessions, our money, and our time. If we are not yielding ourselves completely to His sovereign lordship, we are disobeying the supreme authority of the universe! Our ultimate allegiance is to belong to God. Caesar may own our money. But God owns us.
Life Application Study Bible writes, as God's followers, we have legitimate obligations to both God and the government. But it is important to keep our priorities straight. When the two authorities’ conflict, our duty to God always must come before our duty to the government.
Steven Cole comments that Jesus’ answer stunned the pretenders. In one succinct sentence, He showed that God and Caesar each have legitimate realms of authority with corresponding responsibilities. But if there is a conflict between realms, God is supreme over Caesar.
R M Edgar says that rendering to Caesar and to God means Caesar has his domain, as the currency shows. He regulates the outward relations of men, their barter, and their citizenship, and by his laws he makes them keep the peace. But beyond this civil sphere, there is the moral and the religious, where God alone is King. Let God get his rights as well as Caesar, and all shall be well.
According to Charles Ryrie Caesar should be given taxes and all rightful political obedience; God should be given worship, obedience, service, and the dedication of one's whole life. (Study Bible).
MacArthur writes "Christians are always required to render to God the things that are God’s. He is the one to whom we belong and whom we serve (Acts 27:23). To Him belong solely our soul’s worship, praise, trust, love, and obedience. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary)
Conclusion:
Go to Jesus without Guile, fulfill the duties of the Government without delay, and worship God wholeheartedly. Whose image do you carry?
Spurgeon writes about the image of Christ in us "I have heard it said that the good sculptor, whenever he sees a suitable block of marble, firmly believes that there is a statue concealed within it and that his business is but to take away the superfluous material, and so unveil the “thing of beauty,” which shall be “a joy forever.” Believer, you are that block of marble; you have been quarried by divine grace and set apart for the Master’s service. “The life of Jesus will be manifested in your bodies that Christ would be formed in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:10) (Ref: preceptaustin).
Conclusion:
How do you approach Jesus? Do you fulfill the govt requirements related to taxes? Does God take first place in your priorities?
