Book of Luke - Ch. 20, Vs. 19-26 (08/22/2004)

Jesus’ Answer to a Trap About Paying Tribute to Caesar

All right Luke chapter 20 and Let's start with verse 19, and I think after all that foolish jesting we better pray first Lord, thank you for meeting with us today. We thank you that you Bring us together to fellowship to have our faith increased by our study of the word, but also by our being together.

And we ask ask you to bless the Bible study this afternoon as well in Jesus name. Amen. Luke chapter 20. Verse 19 and the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him and They feared the people for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Now what parable did they speak in case you weren't here? Last time it is. It is a one verse or a couple of verse parable. It's a short little parable, but verse 18 says whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken.

But on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder. That's the one that he's referring to. And he said these Jews perceived. He was talking to them. Well, that's because he was talking to them and he was actually talking to everyone though and You know, it's one of those things if the shoe fits wear it and it fit pretty well here.

So you go into verse 19, that's that's the context. It's talking about when it says they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. They watched him and they sent forth spies which should fake Vein or fake themselves to be just men and that a strange saying that these Jews knew that they had to choose people who had to fake as if they were just because they weren't really just.

And they understood that now they don't know if they applied that to themselves or not they probably saw themselves as being okay. So they bring these spies that would fake to be just men that they might take hold of his words.

That so they might deliver him into the power and authority of the governor. So they're trying to catch him at his own words. Anytime you teach the Bible there are people trying to do that. And a lot of times when you just live your life in front of the world they're trying to catch you prove you're not such a great Christian and They ask him saying master.

We know that thou sayest and teach us rightly neither Acceptance thou the person of any but teach us the way of God truly. They're saying we know that you don't respect. You're no respecter of persons and they said boy that is right.

We're in agreement with you that you're this way and you teach the way of God now, they're trying to trap him. Now you you tell me this isn't a tough question. They ask him it really is. He said is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar or not?

Now here you had these religious Jews and they're trying to pretend that there are so righteous that all they want to do is serve God they don't want to have anything to do with the world. They just here to serve God and they said now is it right then for us to take our money?

Which God has given us and and so rightfully it's God's money. Should we take that and pay taxes with it? To the government and They thought they could trap Jesus this way and You know, this is one of the most amazing answers.

If you look and see What he says in verse 22, is it lawful for us to give tribute of the Caesar or no? But Jesus perceived their craftiness and said unto them, why do you tempt me? I'm sure they felt a little funny because he just read their mind.

They had not told him. I mean, why would he think we're tempting you and they're going whoa. Why do you tempt me now? Look at this. He says show me a penny so he asked for one of them to hand him a Roman coin and Then he says whose image is inscribed upon this Roman coin and they answered and said Caesars and He said unto them render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things which are God's.

What an answer and they could not take hold of his words before the people and they marveled at his answer. And they held their peace, you know, you gave a good answer when they get when it gets quiet.

Which seldom happens to us but to Jesus it happened. He gave him such a great answer. They just couldn't say anything else. Can you imagine what he's saying he says look at that money that's in your pocket and the Pharisees were known for making money.

I mean they knew how to get it in the wrong kind of way. They would get it from widow ladies by by taxing them with the temple taxes and all different ways. They had of getting this ill-gotten gain and Jesus said look at that money.

You're so worried about you Really don't want to pay taxes. It's reading you're asking me this question and said whose money is it whose pictures on it Caesar? So we'll give that to give that to Caesar which is Caesars and given to God which is God's.

Which there was a strong implication that it was their heart and their life. They should be given to God. Don't need to worry so much about your money. And now that wouldn't work too well with today's theology either would it?

Because today they would wish that he said well, no don't send any to Caesar send it all to the preacher so Let's see here. All right. Well, let me ask you this. Have you run across people? There is a group of people around the country nowadays that are into this idea that our government is just totally evil and You know, they have to be 98 right, right?

What do you think that but but they don't think there's any good in it? I've even met people who had conservative values, but they Absolutely believe that George Bush jr. Is tied in as a buddy of Osama bin Laden's Because of oil and he's really their friend and that the whole war was trumped up and they really believe that stuff and so the that brand of person and A lot of Christians out there do believe that it would be correct If you could avoid paying taxes to the government because they look at this way.

It's God's money. Why should I give that to to Satan? Why should I give that to the world system? Why should I give that to the US government and the truth is Jesus was answering that very sentiment here with these Pharisees and 2nd Peter chapter 2 verse 9 and this whole Section.

I won't read this for sake of time, but 2nd Peter 2 9 is a whole section that's talking about a false prophet. It says that they were created to in essence. It says they were created to go to hell. It says they're like dark clouds that come over and they never rain.

They just make you think you're gonna get something but they never give you anything of value and it talks about these false prophets and look at one of the things that They teach It it says that they teach.

That you are not supposed to Honor the government's. Now, that's interesting. These people go around teaching their followers. That they ought not to honor the government's and yet the Bible doesn't teach that.

Let's Look at a couple of places where it speaks to that issue. 1st Timothy 2 1 and in Romans 13 1. Let's look at those two while you're turning there the section in 2nd Peter. Specifically the part that talks about these false prophets.

It says but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government. Presumptuous are they self-will they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Now that doesn't just mean the government.

It also means any form of authority structure. They don't like that at all. Now first Timothy 2 1 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving a thanks be made for all men for kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life and all godliness and Honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

Who will have all men to be saved now? That means all types of men doesn't mean all men obviously because all men are not going to be saved. It means both Jew Gentile. He'll have all types of men from all over the world Saved and to come into the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all. And here again this word all has to be taken in the context of the whole passage. It means all types of people Jews Gentiles blacks Asians everything.

To be testified in due time. Where into I am ordained a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. So he's talking about Jews and Gentiles. You ought to always remember that these Bible teachers were used primarily talking to a bunch of Jewish Christians.

And the Jewish mind found it very difficult to believe God would save a Gentile. So when he says he's the Savior of all men, he means he's the Savior of Gentiles also. Now the main topic in that passage was he was telling them to pray for kings and people that are an authority and it says This pleases God our Savior now.

Let's go into Romans 13 1 and this is probably the clearest passage on what our position ought to be with governments. To me this is a difficult passage because you you stop you think our government is seemingly becoming more and more evil and more and more corrupt and You say well, I pay my taxes and they take some of that money and they go around and they fund abortions with it.

So is it right to give pay my taxes? Romans 13 1 says let every soul be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but of God the powers that be are Ordained of God. Do you know why that's hard for us to accept because we're humanists.

And we're Arminians. We grew up thinking man's in control of everything, but he's not God is when we look at a government that's less than perfect. We say well We you know, that's not good. We don't need to support that government and Yet the Bible says that government wouldn't be there if God had not ordained that that would be there even when Bill Clinton.

Yes, even Bill Clinton Was ordained of God. You say I can't be. Well, then you don't believe Romans chapter 13 and verses 1 and 2 as it says very clearly. That the powers that be. So therefore if they be if they exist on the face of this planet.

They are then ordained of God. Why does God do this? Well It says the whole Bible teaches that the worst thing that there is in God's universe is anarchy. And without government because of the sin nature that the human race has.

You would have everybody out looking for themselves so you have to have government so God has ordained government because of sin and The sin nature would just go absolutely wild if there were no government so because so therefore God says In verse 2 whosoever resists the power resists the ordinance of God.

So when you resist the government. You're resisting God's ordained Government and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Now, let me give you a Greek word there. It doesn't mean in the English.

It sound like you're gonna go to hell. That's not what it means. What it means is judgment and it's coming from the government so you can you can say, okay I disagree with this government. They're paying for abortions.

So I'm going to go burn down the Capitol building and you go set that thing on fire and what's gonna happen is you're gonna Receive damnation, but that's an old English word what it really means. You're gonna receive judgment by the very government.

You just attacked they probably gonna shoot you and kill you. It really doesn't mean damnation. It's not a spiritual thing. It's talking about if you fight the government that God has put in place over you.

They have every right to Kill you or put you in prison. Many things they can do to you and that's the way it is in the world. We know that so. The interesting information that we get here in Romans 13, however, is that God ordained this government?

Now it's wonderful that he's brought us to a place where he is ordained for America up until now anyway to this very day Democratic government. That as long as the population was predominantly Christian oriented not that they were all Christians.

But they were guided by Christian principles and Jewish principles. In other words, what does that tell you as long as the population was guided by this book? Democracy worked and we were blessed but let me tell you this even our founding father said that no democracy anywhere can work without a moral Christian people so we're bordering on moving into the time of our history where it can't work and our Politicians are always praising democracy.

They shouldn't be they should be praising Christianity and the Bible. That's what makes democracy work. Democracy is not to be all to end all you go in the Soviet Union and You didn't you didn't find homosexual homosexuals running all over the place and so Union because it was against the law there.

Used to be in Texas up until what last year. Is on the books as illegal now, they took it off the books but. So what's our position bottom line as Christians toward the government. Well, Jesus said pay into Caesar.

What is Caesar? So we're supposed to pay our taxes. Fortunately, we live in a government where if you don't like it You can vote against the person who wants to raise taxes and vote for the one who wants to cut the taxes.

But whatever the taxes are we're supposed to pay the taxes and Are we supposed to fight against the government? Well, you know what? I've always noticed about the Apostle Paul. He never went around making his mission to save Rome.

What he did try to do was say Romans. So his life was all about witnessing giving the gospel to the people. He wasn't worried about the government that much. If any and so, you know pray for our leaders, but don't make it your mission necessarily to.

You know think that you're going to change the entire government or burn down the Capitol building. Just pray for the leaders pay your taxes pay your Gifts unto the God as he leads you to do in the church and live your life as a witness before the world.

That's what these passages teach us very clearly in these Pharisees didn't like it one bit, but that's what Jesus taught. So let's stand and have prayer together will be dismissed. Father we thank you for your word.

It touches on all aspects of life. May we remember these things as we are tempted to rebel against authority whether it be a policeman giving that giving out a ticket or Whatever the authority is that's over us.

May we have the attitude the Lord Jesus would have. And be meek at all times and Respectful and the Lord we ask you would go with us as we head our different ways today. We thank you for the time that you gave us together and we thank you for Your son Jesus Christ.

And the life that he lived on this earth the life that he is living now. We thank you that we have an advocate with the father and we pray in Jesus name. Amen. You.