Wednesday: God versus Caesar
Read Luke 20:20-26. How do we take what Jesus taught here and apply it to our own situation in whatever country we live?
During the time of Jesus, taxation by Rome was a volatile issue. Around A.D. 6, according to Josephus, Judas the Galilean, a revolutionary leader, declared that paying taxes to Caesar was treason against God.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The issue, along with several Messianic claims and aspirants, set off periodic anti-Roman revolts. Against such a sensitive background, the question put before Jesus about whether it was lawful to pay taxes revealed the ulterior motive of the interrogators: to answer that it was lawful would have placed Jesus on the side of Rome, showing that He could not be the king of the Jews as declared by the crowds at His entry into Jerusalem; to say No would have meant that Jesus was following the Galilean mood and declaring the Roman rule unlawful, opening Himself to the charge of treason. They had hoped to put Jesus in a bind from which He couldn’t escape.
Jesus, though, saw right through them. He pointed to the image of Caesar on a coin and pronounced His verdict:
Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s
(Luke 20:25, NKJV). Living under Caesar, whose currency is used for day-to-day necessities, has its obligation to Caesar. But then there is another obligation, a greater one, which rises from the fact that we are made in the image of God and that to Him we owe our ultimate allegiance.
Christ’s reply was no evasion, but a candid answer to the question. . . . He declared that since they were living under the protection of the Roman power, they should render to that power the support it claimed, so long as this did not conflict with a higher duty. But while peaceably subject to the laws of the land, they should at all times give their first allegiance to God.
-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 602.
What are ways we can continue to be good citizens in whatever country we live, while at the same time knowing that our true citizenship exists in a city whose builder and maker is God
(Heb. 11:10)?
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The image on the coin left no doubt concerning who was the owner (Luke 20:24). When the Creator made humans He placed His stamp on the race which belonged to Him (Genesis 1:27). Mankind allowed that image to be defaced and another master made a claim (John 8:44).
The Redeemer would have to do a restoration work (Job 19:25). Yet only those who desire to return to their Maker and Owner, and to give themselves back to Him fully will be restored (John 3:36). Those who give of their best to any other will only reproduce in themselves the image of their object of worship (Exodus 20:3; 2 Peter 2:19).
If you have not before made the decision, today is a good time to make the commitment to the Creator. Why not give of your best to the Master, whose image is worth it? (Revelation 22:4).
In addition to the above message I learned something else from this incident. Watch out for tricky questions!
You might be sincerely sharing the Good News and answering genuine questions but then along comes someone who wants to trip you up and asks a question which will get you into difficulties no matter what you answer.
What to do? Obviously your response will depend on the question, but I suggest, answer as Jesus did, something along the lines : the real issue is much more complicated than an either or : answer their question with a question about their motives : or "it is written", or I will have to study up about that and get back to you.
What ever you do, don't get into a debate with them because those type of people are not interested in the truth, they only want to win the argument, and what they believe changes to suit their purposes, by arguing with them you are just giving them a platform to spread their false doctrines. And this type of argument will harm others who are listening and are truly seeking the truth.
In answering the question under wedensdays lesson we as citizens of this world who are looking to become citizens of the kingdom of God must contribute to the runnings of that country. Our voices must be heard through our votes outcry of injustices, racism, and discrimination in all its forms and most importantly in paying our taxes no matter how unjustified it appear. Seeing that you can be drawned to the courts of the land and end up loosing everything.
Think we need Jesus to approach some of these philosophers here today.... "how he'd calmly but sternly put 'em to shame making them see the real deep truths that they so oftentimes overlook and fail to see! May we all ask of God wisdom who giveth liberally! Thus allowing us to see what really needs to be seen so we can make choices fit for his kingdom, so help us Lord.. Amen 🙂
To answer the previous question, I would go back to talking about how we are suppose to be in the world and not of the world. God doesn't want us to partake in the worldly activities but to comply with the rules and regulations of the land. But our ultimate goal should be to make it to the best place ever which is heaven.
It is appropriate for Christians to speak out against governments in without becoming politically involved. When we see the poor, the needy, and the unloved being ignored by our government, it is a Christian's responsibility to speak up on their behalf. Check the message that many of the minor prophets were trying to get through to the "governments" of Judah and Israel. They were condemned because of their exploitation of the poor.
We are confronted with various questions that are meant to 'trap' us or contradict what we believe. As Christians our only reliance is on the Holy Spirit who will always give us what to answer in every tempting situation (Luke 12:11,Matthew 10:19. Let us ask our Father in Heaven to give us the Holy Spirit to help us know how to respond various tempting situarions-Luke 11:13