“Things that Belong to God”
2014 Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The city attorney of Houston, Texas was in the news this week
for a subpoena, demanding that several local pastors turn over
their correspondence with parishioners and sermon notes.

In an interview, one of the pastors objected that the government
has no right or claim to those things of God and religion,
citing verse 21 of our Matthew text this morning:
“Then Jesus said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Unfortunately, the way he uses that verse, by his interpretation,
that pastor misses the central point that Jesus was making.
~ This passage is not about Jesus trying to define,
or establish a boundary of separation between church & state.

When the events of this passage occurred,
Israel was occupied, under the control of the Roman Empire.
That meant that everyone within the empire, including the Jews,
were all under the rule and authority of Caesar,
and to enforce and demonstrate that claim, every person had to pay a census tax each year.

The census tax was especially onerous & offensive to the Jews,
because it symbolized subjugation under Roman authority
and because it had to be paid with a specific Roman coin
that featured the image of Caesar with the inscription:
'Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus'.

That inscription claimed that Caesar was divine, a god,
which was so offensive to their religious sensitivity,
that the most Jews would not even touch or carry
such a blasphemous and idolatrous pagan coin.

This Matthew passage is set during Holy week in Jerusalem,
with the religious leaders wanting to get rid of Jesus,
but afraid to arrest him because of his popularity.
So according to the text, vs. 15
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians.

The Pharisees were a religious - political group that favored
the literal and strict adherence to the Law.
They opposed any cooperation with Rome as a matter of faith,
and considered the census tax a blasphemous abomination,
an idolatry that offended the honor of God.

In contrast, the Herodians believed that
cooperation with Rome did not interfere with being a good Jew,
and that paying the tax was just a matter of civic duty.

Though political and theological adversaries,
both groups were opposed to Jesus, his message & popularity,
so they plotted to entrap him with a trick question…
… vs. 16
"Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, … Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"

"Is it lawful" frames the debate as a theological question,
specifically, what did God instruct Moses, on this issue?
“Is it righteous -- is it godly to pay those taxes?
Should we submit to Caesar's rule and reign,
or reserve our loyalty to the God of Israel, alone?

If Jesus answered in agreement with the Herodians, and said,
“go ahead, be practical and just pay the tax,
accept the authority of Caesar as Lawful,
then the people would be offended and turn on Jesus.

On the other hand, if Jesus backed the Pharisees' position,
if he said it was not lawful (righteous) to pay the census tax,
then they could accuse Jesus of insurrection against Rome.

Jesus sees right through their attempt to trap him: vs. 18
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?

A hypocrite is someone who presents one image to the world,
but in truth, is really something or someone quite different…
… on the outside they may seem very religious, spiritual and holy,
yet on the inside, are driven by malice, greed & selfishness.

Rather than falling for their verbal trap and challenge,
Jesus demonstrates and reveals their greedy hypocrisy
by asking to see one of the coins in question; vs. 20
Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?"

It’s a seemingly harmless and innocent question,
except for where they were, and who was carrying the coin.

So they handed him the coin with the image of Caesar on one side
and on the other an inscription proclaiming Caesar as god.

So right there at the temple, the holy and sacred place of God,
they have brought to the Temple a coin that was really an idol.
It was right in their pockets,
demonstrating, they have sold out to the idolatry of Caesar.

If it really was a problem of religious sensitivity and ethics
if it really was a matter of exclusive faithfulness to God,
then what were they doing even possessing such a coin,
much less bringing it onto holy Temple grounds?

How hypocritical to carry & accumulate wealth using that coin,
that you claim offends your religious sensitivities.
They seem to have no problem
with the compromise of owning Caesar's idolatrous coin,
nor with bringing it onto the holy grounds of the Temple …
they just don't want to give it up to Caesar in taxes.

At issue is not the faith and moral question of Law they posed,
but as Jesus reveals, it’s about their hypocrisy and greed…
…vs. 21
Then he (Jesus) said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."

In the Greek, this word 'give' is to repay a debt to whom it’s due,
returning back to someone, their own property.

Since Caesar's image and title stamped on this little coin,
then just as anyone marks their possessions, it must be his;
so, give back to Caesar, that which belongs to him.

Now Jesus could have stopped right there,
having exposed their hypocrisy & greed, but he wasn’t done…
for then he raised the far more critical question,
** what is it then, that belongs to God?

Following the logic of Caesar’s ownership by image on the coins,
what is it then that bears the image of God?,
and where has God's name and image been inscribed?

The answer to that question goes all the way back to the beginning
Genesis 1:27
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We bear God's image, and we belong to God.
We bear the image imprinted by our maker, to whom we belong.
We are God's coins, and we are meant to be spent out in the world,
reflecting God's will, grace, justice and purpose,
called to reclaim as God's kingdom wherever we circulate.
Just as Caesar had his coins, so God's has his, us.

So the point Jesus was making,
was to give back that ridiculous little coin to Caesar,
* but more importantly, give back yourself,
fully, faithfully and entirely to God who loves you!

The point,
that the pastor in the news from Houston didn’t understand,
is that Jesus wasn’t saying
that some things & life belong to Caesar, or to us,
and only some areas & things of life belong to God.

Truth is, what belongs of Caesar? None of it, not a single coin;
but rather, all of creation belongs to its Creator.

* Ultimately everyone and everything belongs to God,
and it is really only on loan to us to use for a lifetime…
… and we are accountable before God for our stewardship
of his gracious gifts of love, life and blessings.
“Give to God the things that belong God.”
– that’s all of it, our whole lives and all they contain.
It is not, here’s one slice of life given over for work,
another for school, one for family and another for church.

In this passage, God’s claim is not just for a slice of my life,
but to exercise influence and authority,
to rule and reign over every bit of a Christian’s life…
… for us, by the way we live, love and serve others
to reflect the truth and grace of to whom we belong…
… that everywhere, and all the time, Jesus is Lord,
and nothing less than that will do.

The secret is to put God first… that is our call.
Make our relationship to God the first and most important,
and God will give us to capacity to do the rest,
and grace enough for when we flail and fail to hit the mark.

Put God first and everything else will fall into place.
This is what Jesus told his disciples so long ago: Mat 6:33
"But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well."

The real challenge that Jesus posed to his critics and accusers
was not to decide what is Caesar's and what belongs to God,
or what is mine & what is His. For all of it belongs to God.
All that any of us have had been freely given by God;
therefore, all that we have already belongs to the Lord…
… as Paul wrote:1 Corinthians 4:7
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you act as if it were not a gift?

I look around, and I am in awe at how richly God has blessed us,
the incredible abundance & opportunities God has given to us.

So as we are moving toward Stewardship Sunday next month,
this passage reminds me that everything, my whole life
and all it contains … already belongs to God.
So what does that suggest about giving my money, time and talent?

* It’s not about giving a certain amount or even a percentage,
but to give enough that it makes a difference in my life.
Enough that it expresses afresh my desire to grow and
for my relationship with God to be my priority over all else…
… and for me that has meant giving
enough that I notice a difference, that I forgo
something I want for the sake of sacrifice.

Let us faithfully and gratefully consider
God's overwhelming goodness and blessings to us all---
for as always … the very best, is yet to come !!