It May Be Harder Than You Think (Matthew 22:15-22)
Gary McManus, 04/22/2018Part of the God's World series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
April 22, 2018, Fourth Sunday of Easter,
Matthew 22:15-22 (p.979-80 /p. 990)
This is NOT a political sermon—Pastor
tries to NOT do those. However, Jesus
mentions the government so the sermon must
also.
Politics is not Pastor’s intention
—Jesus is Pastor’s intention.
Even if you have disliked the President,
past or present, the early church prayed
for Caesar and Caesar was much worse.
(Matthew 5:44, Mark 11:25, 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
The message for July 4th this year will be
more political—and it will be about coffee!
See Pastor Todd Burpo’s book, God is for Real
with David Drury.
First, plenty of back story. . .
Holy Week, Jerusalem, Jesus, Pharisees’
Disciples and Herodians. Who?
One question many of Jesus’ people had to
deal with was their opinion about faith and
Roman rule.
One reason people hated tax collectors is
Ttat they were doing Rome’s work for them
And gouging all the citizens in doing that work.
Jesus can easily be in trouble with any answer
to their question.
“Pay the tax”: the Herodians will be glad and the
Pharisees and many others angry.
“Don’t pay the tax: Herod? and the Romans
get angry.
The coin did indeed have Caesar’s image on it.
Some Jews would not carry those coins because
of the image of a pagan man on it. A pagan man
who would be proclaimed GOD!
Jesus’ point is that they are Roman coins.
Give the coins back to the ones who made the coins.
AND
Literally, give BACK to God what is God’s.
But there is no ONE answer
—no straightforward or simple rule.
Jesus: weigh the demands of the two authorities,
God and man or God and government.
Caesar’s image is on the coins.
Where is God’s image? On us!
(Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 9:6).
The Lord wants what is made in his image.
Why is it hard for the rich to enter the kingdom?
(Matthew 19:16-26)
Because of all their stuff?
Or, because they don’t know what belongs to God?
(See Luke 12:18).
We can be poor in government coins but still have
treasure in heaven. (Matthew 6:20).
Give to God what is God’s. Amen
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