A Taxing Situation Matthew 22:15-22
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. What does this mean?
Does it mean that loyalty to the government comes first and God comes second?
Does it mean that civic requirements should be equally balanced with spiritual requirements?
Or is Jesus saying that we need to fulfil our God-given responsibilities in all spheres of life?
Jesus just told two parables of judgment against the Pharisees. They want revenge. Verse 15 says that they went out and hatched a plan to trap Jesus in His words. They send their disciples to him along with the Herodians. The Herodians are Jews who support King Herod and the Roman empire. So if Jesus says anything against the government, they can report him to Pontius Pilate.
The leaders say to Jesus, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
They say “Tell us, then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
The Jews had to pay several kinds of taxes.
Number one: They paid a temple tax, (which costs two days’ wages a year. That’s the tax we read about in Matthew 17 when Peter goes fishing and he catches a fish with a coin large enough to pay his tax and Jesus’ tax).
Number two, they paid a customs tax (which means paying high taxes every time you travel through certain towns. Those are the taxes Matthew and Zacchaeus used to collect), and
Number three, all countries conquered by Rome had to pay a direct tax to Caesar.
The Jews hated this tax for two reasons:
Number one: They hated paying taxes to have a Gentile emperor ruling their country.
Number two: The coin that you use to pay the tax has a picture of Caesar that says “Caesar Augustus: Son of God.” The Jews thought it was terrible for an evil emperor to call himself “son of God. Many Jews thought it was sacrilegious to carry a coin like this. This last tax is the one Jesus is getting asked about.
If Jesus says “Yes, it is right to pay taxes to Caesar,” the Pharisees will say “You support Caesar’s kingdom? ….You are a traitor to the Jews.” And if Jesus says “No, it is wrong to pay taxes to Caesar,” the Herodians are right there, and they will report Jesus to the authorities.
But Jesus is too smart. He says “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They bring Him a denarius. Notice that Jesus doesn’t have any coins in His pocket that say “Caesar Augustus: Son of God.” He has to get one from the Pharisees! They’re ready to condemn Jesus for supporting Caesar, but they’re the ones carrying his money! So now Jesus has THEM against the ropes!
He asks “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” They say “Caesar’s.”
Then Jesus says “If you’re going to benefit from Caesar’s money, you need to pay Caesar’s taxes.
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.”
The same lesson applies to us today. We need to pay our taxes. Now I admit, I don’t always agree with the government. I don’t agree on somethings that money is spent on
The government is far from perfect. But Romans 13:4 says that the government “is God’s servant to do you good,” and even though they do things you don’t like, they also do a lot of things YOU DO like.
I like having our neighbourhood protected by the police and fire fighters. I like driving on tarmac roads.
I like that I can visit a public library and get out any book I want without having to buy it myself.
I like that I can enjoy parks and beaches that have been funded by government money.
I like the security of knowing that my money in the bank will be there when I want to get it, and
I like knowing that our nation’s borders are protected by the best army, navy, air force, in the whole world.
Romans 13:6 says “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.” Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
But Jesus also says “Give to God what is God’s.” What belongs to God? Everything!
Your car belongs to God. Your house belongs to God. Even YOU belong to God!
And another reason why we pay taxes is because according to Psalm 47:9, even “the kings of the earth belong to God,.”
There are four things we can do to give to God what is God’s.
Number one: We can give God our time. I understand we’re in a recession right now, and we can’t all give as much money to the church as we would like. But we can still give our time.
The second thing you can give back to God are your talents.
Giving to God what is God’s means giving your treasures. We don’t give it because God needs the money. We give for three reasons:
Number one: It’s a way for us to show gratitude to the One who blesses us with everything we need.
Proverbs 3:9 says “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Number two: It’s a way for us to support full time workers in the church. 1 Timothy 5:18 says “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward..
Number three: Giving our treasures back to God is a chance for us to help the needy. (Matthew 6:2) Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Giving to God means giving your time, your talents, your treasures, and
(number four,) and it means giving yourself.
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. This means fulfilling our God-given responsibilities in all spheres of life. Give your time, your talents, your treasures, and yourself to the Lord.
Give your best to the Master.
News from the Church New dates
1st April..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
15th April…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
ANSWERS TO 15th March QUESTIONS
1) On the road to Damascus 2) 3 days 3) Tabitha (Dorcus) 4) Not so Lord 5) Antioch
6) Thou art mad 7) Saul and Barnabas 8) Midnight 9) An earthquake 10) Kill himself
11) What must I do to be saved 12) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 13) Athens 14) Diana
15) Agrippa 16) Bitten by a snake
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is about The Old Testament
1 Is the word “Bible” found in the Scriptures?
2 What does the word Bible mean?
3 What was the original language of the Old Testament?
4 How many books are there in the Old Testament?
5 How many men were inspired to write the Old Testament?
6 How many chapters are there in the Old Testament?
7 What other names can be given to the Bible?
8 What are the first 5 books called?
9 Who wrote these 5 books?
10 What does Genesis mean?
11 What are the first recorded words of God?
12 How many days did God use to create the world?
13 What happened on the first day.?
14 What happened on the second day?
15 What happened on the 3rd day”?
16 What happened on the 4th day?
God Bless