LIFE OF
CHRIST
MATTHEW 22:15-22
THE THINGS THAT
ARE GOD’S
Life of Christ #48
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We are continuing
our study in the Life of Christ. In past
weeks, we have seen Jesus enter the city of
Jesus examined the
temple and then went back to
Jesus then gave
one of His great lessons on prayer. Mark 11:22-24
On this same day,
the chief priests and elders challenged his authority. After Jesus responded to
their question, He gave a series of parables that condemned the leaders of
Vs. 15 - After hearing these scathing parables, the Pharisees had a
meeting. They wanted to destroy
Jesus. They wanted to ruin His
reputation. They wanted to see Him dead.
Jesus was the best
speaker whoever lived. He was and is God!
The Pharisees mistakenly thought that they could trip up Jesus in His
Words, like politicians do today. If they could entangle Jesus in His own they
could accuse Him and have him censored, and perhaps even killed.
Vs. 16 – The Pharisees sent some of their disciples, men who were training to
become leading Pharisees.
We are not sure
why they didn’t go themselves, but we can speculate. Perhaps because they wanted to trick Jesus
they didn’t want Him to recognize the people that were being sent. So, they
sent men he wouldn’t recognize as Pharisees.
They were trying
to be deceitful.
They also joined
forces with another faction, the Herodians. Now this is a strange combination.
The Herodians were followers of King Herod, a Roman vassal. The Herodians were supportive of taxes that
helped keep Herod in power. The Pharisees hated Roman domination, and hated
taxes.
Neither the
Pharisees nor the Herodians had time for Jesus.
The Pharisees
joined forces so that whatever answer Jesus gave to their clever question,
somebody could accuse Him.
If Jesus answered
one way, the Pharisees would accuse Him before the Jews. If He answered another way, the Herodians,
sympathetic to the Roman government, would accuse Him before that government.
Vs. 16 - So these men come to Jesus and begin with flattery. They pretend to be
sincere men seeking an answer from one that was true, taught the word of God
and didn’t care what men thought or said.
Vs. 17 - Their question was about a poll tax or a head tax levied by
It was a clever question. The common Jew hated being in subjection to
Vs. 18 – These men acted like righteous, sincerely religious men, but Jesus as
God, saw right through their hypocrisy.
And by the way,
Jesus also sees through our hypocrisy today.
We can fool people, pretending to be what we are not, but we can’t fool
God! So Jesus called them what they
were, hypocrites!
Vs. 19 – Jesus asks for a denarius, a day’s wage for a common laborer and the
silver coin minted by the emperors to pay their tax. It had the emperor’s picture on it.
Vs. 20 – Jesus asked whose picture was on the coin.
Vs. 21 - What was
Jesus saying? It was Caesar’s picture on
the coin, give to Caesar the things that are Caesars.
The taxes that were due to the government were to be paid. God had put government in charge for the sake
of order therefore, the government was to be paid. Romans 13:1-7
So, Jesus was
saying give to government what government deserves. After all, the government is ordained of
God. But then He sees, “Render to God
the things that are God’s.”
God is to be given
what is His! Of course, if it ever comes
down to a choice between obeying God and obeying the government, God is to be
obeyed!
Vs. 22 - The argument of Jesus was rock solid!
It could not be denied. In fact His accusers were amazed that He gave an
answer with which nobody could legitimately argue.
As Warren Wiersbe
said – “Caesar’s image was on the coin. God’s image is on man.” Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (New
Testament) Volume 1, (Wheaton Illinois, Victor Books, 1989) p. 80
Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Because we are
God’s we should give to God the things that are His! That leads us to the question of the morning,
“What are the things that are God’s?”
What are the
things that belong to God?
OUR
1 Corinthians
6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own? [20] For ye are bought with
OUR THANKS
Psalm 113:3 - From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's
name is
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
OUR TIME
Psalm 90:10 - The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of
strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour
and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we
Psalm 39:4 - Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is;
that I may know how frail I am.
Psalm 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto
wisdom.
Ephesians 5:15-1 - See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16]
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise,
but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
OUR THOUGHTS
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
OUR TALENTS
1 Peter 4:10-11 - As every man hath received the gift, even so
minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God. [11] If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all
things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen.
OUR TONGUES
James 3:8 - But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison.
Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which
is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Psalm 141:3, Set a watch, O Lord, before my
mouth; keep the door of my lips.
OUR
TREASURES
Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [20] But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal: [21] For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
OUR THINGS
1 John 2:15 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Matthew 10:37 - He that loveth father or mother more than me is
not worthy of me: and he
OUR TRUST
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever
Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
THESE ARE THE
THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S
Our
Our Thanks
Our Time
Our Thoughts
Our Talents
Our Tongues
Our Treasures
Our Things
Our Trust
These are all
God’s
WHAT IS NOT GOD’S
IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?
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