RENDERING TO CAESAR AND GOD
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. The Pharisees had suffered a terrible rebuke in the parable of
the wicked husbandmen.
1. Jesus taught that a certain landowner had let his vineyard
out to vine dressers and went into a far country. Matt.
21:33-46
B. Jesus spoke this parable against the Jews, especially against
the Jewish rulers.
1. God had sent the prophets, and they had beat, killed, and
stoned them.
2. God sent His Son and they would kill Him also.
C. The Pharisees recognized that Jesus was speaking the parable
against them.
1. Because of fear of the multitude, they sought to destroy Him
by other means.
2. This introduces our text for today - Matt. 22:15-22
I. THEIR EFFORTS TO ENTANGLE JESUS IN HIS TALK.
A. They did not feel capable of meeting the Lord in fair and open
discussion, so they sought to entangle Him in His talk.
1. The word "entangle" means literally, "to ensnare or entrap."
2. This is a gross evil on the part of the Pharisees. They
wanted to entrap Jesus in His talk because they hated Him
and wanted to destroy Him.
3. Instead, they should have been listening to, and obeying,
His teaching.
B. They sent to Him their disciples, with the Herodians.
1. These leaders of the Pharisees were afraid Jesus would
recognize them, so they sent some of their disciples.
a. These are young men who could pretend to be troubled
with the question of paying tribute to Caesar.
b. Luke says they were "spies who pretended to be
righteous." Luke 20:20
2. The Herodians were a sect of Jews who agreed largely with
the Sadducees on religious questions, but who accepted the
rule of Rome through the Herods.
a. Herod was an Igumean and remotely related to the
Jews.
b. The Herodians were willing to accept an Idumean rather
than one of the tribe of Judah as their ruler in order to
have some semblance of self-government.
c. They would sacrifice principle for power.
3. It should be noticed, too, that the Pharisees and the
Herodians were enemies on both religious and political
questions.
a. However, they are willing, for a time, to bury their
enmity and team up to destroy the One who they
recognized as a common enemy.
C. Listen to the words of these men:
1. "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way
of God in truth..."
a. This committee of young men started their entrapment
by using flattery - by hypocritically complimenting
Jesus.
b. What they said was true, but they did not believe it.
c. Contrast Nicodemus who made a similar statement with
sincerity. John 3:2
2. They added, "...Nor do You care about anyone, for You
do not regard the person of men."
a. Again, this is more flattery to disguise themselves, and
to make their entrapment more effective.
b. And again, what they said is absolutely true.
(1) Jesus treated all men alike. He exposed the sins of
the leaders as well as those of the common people.
(2) The fact that Jesus did not show favoritism to the
religious leaders was why they hated Him.
D. Their question was, "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is
it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" Vs. 17
1. This is the question the Pharisees and Herodians sent these
young disciples to ask Jesus.
2. They thought the question presented a dilemma for Jesus.
They thought He could not answer it without doing Himself
much harm.
a. If Jesus said, "Yes, it is lawful to give to Caesar," He
would alienate the larger portion of the Jewish
population, who hated to pay tribute to Rome.
b. If He said, "No, it is not lawful to give tribute to
Caesar," He would be prosecuted by the Herodians for
promoting seditious views and stirring up dissension.
(1) This is one of their false accusations against Jesus
at His crucifixion. Luke 23:2-5
3. Thus, the Pharisees expected, with the help of the
Herodians, to destroy Jesus regardless of how he answered
the question.
II. JESUS' REPLY TO THEIR QUESTION.
A. Jesus perceived their wickedness. Vs. 18
1. On other occasions Jesus revealed the thoughts of men's
hearts.
a. This shows His Divinity.
2. One can never deceive God.
B. Jesus said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?"
1. Jesus was not quite as diplomatic in His approach as they
were.
2. He revealed their true character in terms which all could
understand.
a. Perhaps at times we put too much emphasis on
diplomacy.
b. For example, when someone asks, "Are you the ones
who believe that only those of the church of Christ will
be saved?" a good reply is, "Yes, and not all of them
will be saved." Matt. 22:14
C. Jesus said, "Show Me the tax money," and when they brought
Him a denarius, He asked, "Whose image and inscription is
this?" Vs. 19-20
1. The image, of course, was the picture of the ruler, who at
that time was Tiberius (Luke 3:1-2) and the inscription when
translated, read, "Tiberius Caesar, the August son of the
divine Agugustus."
D. Jesus' reply was, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that
are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
1. His reply satisfied both sides.
a. The part of the answer, "Render to Caesar the things
that are Caesar's" satisfied the demands of the
Herodians.
(1) They could not prosecute Him for making such a
statement.
(2) They simply were not concerned about rendering
anything to God.
b. Everyone understood, especially the Pharisees, that one
should render service to God.
(1) They could not object to the part about rendering
to Caesar because they were using coins made by
Caesar. The coin was proof that they were
governed by the Romans.
(2) The Romans were responsible for maintaining law
and order and it was only right that the Jews
should pay tribute to them.
E. They were unable to respond to Jesus' answer. As a matter of
fact, they were amazed at the Lord's answer. Vs. 22
1. Jesus had on many occasions so effectively answered their
questions that, after this encounter, they were afraid to
question Him anymore. Vs. 46
III. JESUS GIVES A DIVINE COMMAND FOR ALL PEOPLES.
A. Not only did Jesus give a favorable answer for all present at
that time, but He laid down a principle that applies to all
peoples of all generations.
1. Jesus laid down the principle of being in subjection to
government.
a. Those commissioned by Him taught the same. Rom.
13:1-7
b. Christianity is not an enemy to civil government, but a
friend to it.
c. Christ's kingdom does not clash or interfere with the
kingdoms of the earth.
d. Jesus did not teach the Jews to rebel and throw off the
yoke of Rome.
(1) The Pharisees needed but little encouragement to
rebel against Rome and make an effort to become
an independent nation again.
(2) These principles also apply in our time. There was
a cartoon some time ago of a picture of a priest
leading a band of folks who had clubs and rocks in
their hands as they marched toward the courthouse
with a caption which said, "The pure and undefiled
religion!"
2. The other great principle that the Lord gave is that we
should render to God the things that are God's.
a. We must love God with our whole being. Mark 12:30
(1) God must have the innermost and uppermost place
in our hearts and lives.
(2) We must render to God that which is due Him, the
firstfruits of our time, money, energy, and talents.
b. Christians have a dual citizenship. Phil. 3:20
(1) Our citizenship is the nation in which we live
which requires that we pay taxes for the services
and benefits we receive.
(2) Our citizenship in the kingdom of heaven requires
that we render to God our primary obedience and
commitment.
(a) We seek first the kingdom of God.
(b) If, at any time, Caesar's commands interfere
with God's commands, we obey God rather
than man. Acts 5:29
Concl.
A. The question which Jesus' enemies thought could not possibly be
answered turned out to be satisfactory to both sides.
B. The question which His enemies thought would be His
destruction proved to raise Him in the estimation of the common
people.
1. The Herodians were pleased to hear Him say, "Render to
Caesar the things that are Caesar's" and the Pharisees were
pleased to hear Him say, "Render to God the things that are
God's."
C. And, more than all this, it gives us principles by which to
live.
1. In following it, in most cases men will have the promise of
a quite and peaceful life on earth, but more importantly,
they will have eternal life.
a. This is God's will for us. Rom. 2:6-7