Have you ever thought of others when you hear teaching from the Bible? “Yes, this is a great message for Tristan. Maybe he’ll smarten up. Hopefully, it won’t go in one ear and out the other.” I could be guilty of the same reaction when I read the Matthew 22 story of the Pharisees dispatching a crew to trick Jesus and to catch Him saying something for which they could fault Him.
I could think: “Yes, Lord, don’t let them off easy; give it to them. Give them a response that will expose their hearts!!” But what about my own heart? When I read the Word of God, my priority should be to have my own heart exposed and changed. I need to bow each day to God’s message for me.
The Pharisees sent their men off to confront the Lord Jesus with their trick-and-trap question. They eased into their trickery by using politeness, and then they lobbed at Him their carefully constructed question:
“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Matthew 22:17
If Jesus said yes, He’d be siding with the Romans and upsetting the Jews. If He said no, He’d have the Roman Empire on His case for being a rebel. The cagey question that was supposed to catch Jesus in a less-than-appropriate response fizzled before their eyes. Their question backfired!
Masterfully, the Master took their question and turned it loose on them. What was meant to back Him into a corner was used to confront them with the hypocrisy of their own hearts. Jesus asked for a coin used for paying taxes. Caesar’s imprint was on the coin. “So, to whom does the coin belong?” He asked. They said: “Caesar.” He said: “Well then, give it to him.” But His response did not end there.
“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s. ” Matthew 22:21.
Jesus didn’t waffle or flub His answer. He was crystal clear. We always have a responsibility to pay our taxes and to be in subjection to government and to God at the same time. They are not mutually exclusive. Both are expected of us. But His answer cut even deeper into their hearts.
Just as the coin sported the imprint of Caesar, they themselves bore the imprint of God – made in the image of God and in His likeness. Yet they miserably failed to give God what belonged to Him. Even more striking – they were looking into the eyes of One who was God Incarnate (John 1:14), and they were not willing to give Him the honour of which He was worthy. It is one thing to rob a Caesar – but to rob God of what He is entitled to – what a felony! Little wonder they made themselves scarce and scattered.
Are you thinking: “Yes, those testy pesky old Pharisees! He got them good again.” But just a second. Are there implications in this lesson for you? For me? Sadly, it is all too possible for me to withhold from the Lord that to which He is entitled.
Am I giving to God what belongs to Him, or is He merely getting my leftovers? Is He getting the last flicker of my energy after I burn myself out at the shrine of capitalism or the last drop as I pour myself out at the altar of leisure? What have I been holding back from God?
Have you ever noticed how you find money to do the little things that you like doing, even when it is oh-so-scarce, but when it comes to giving generously to the Lord, barely a dollar can be found? It’s called a spiritual felony. Give to God the things that belong to God.
Let the prayer of our hearts today be: “Lord, I withhold nothing. I surrender all. May the response of Jesus to the Pharisees be more impactful on my own life.”
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