Jesus is Attacked by the Pharisees

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The Twenty Fourth Sunday After Trinity
Jesus is Attacked by the Pharisees
November 2, 2008

TEXT:  NKJ Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him [Jesus] in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
 
This is part of a discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees—to set the tone for the lesson, let’s visit some of the earlier discussion—first, the confrontation is provoked by the elders and leaders of the Jews as Jesus taught in the Temple
 
NKJ Matthew 21:23 Now when He [Jesus] came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?"
 
Then Jesus challenged the Jewish leaders because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah
 
NKJ Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
 
And now for our text—the Pharisees attacked Jesus to prove to themselves, and all those listening, that Jesus was not the Christ—the Pharisees were the most intelligent and most educated of all the Jews—yet their wisdom was made foolishness by Jesus—they couldn’t catch Jesus violating God’s teachings—not in His words—not in His actions—but they wanted him dead
 
NKJ Matthew 26:3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
 
In our text the Pharisees decided to trick Jesus and have him seized—either by the Jewish people—or by the Roman government—they would be rid of him, and their hands would be “clean”—“Is  it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”—they figured they had Jesus caught now—He had to answer with either yes or no—either response would rid the Pharisees of Jesus—these wise men were very clever
 
To set the trap, the Pharisees had brought with them some of Herod’s servants—if Jesus said “no” to paying taxes he would have been arrested as a traitor to the Roman government—the penalty would have been death—if He said “yes” to paying taxes to the Romans, Jesus would be speaking publicly against the independence of the Jews—the Pharisees would then incite the Jews against Him
 
The Jews wanted their own land—their own king—they thought that was promised to them by God through Moses
 
NKJ Deuteronomy 17:15 "you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
 
This and other Scripture passages were preached to the Jews continuously by the Pharisees and the scribes—they taught the people to remain independent—even during their captivity, the Jews thought of themselves as an independent nation—if Jesus answered “yes” the Jews would surely stone him—God promised them liberty—to preach otherwise was blasphemy—the Pharisees thought themselves quite clever.
 
The Jews were growing impatient—God promised them a king—yet year after year they remained under the strict laws of the Romans—Jews were constantly testing the Romans with acts of insubordination—the result was always the same—obey the laws of Rome or be put to death by the Romans—the Romans had little tolerance for the disobedient Jews—if Jesus gave a yes answer to the Pharisee’s question and the Jews would stone him—a no answer and the Romans would kill him--the Pharisees were clever—they had this man Jesus now—they were not to blame for his death either way
 
Jesus knows the tricks of the Pharisees before they even scheme them—He responds to their question not with a yes or no as the Pharisees expected—but he answers “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”  They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this?  And whose inscription?”  “Caesar’s” they replied.—here you see the master stroke the Lord uses—He asks them to hand him the tribute money and inquires whose image and superscription it bears—when they answer him “Caesar’s”—Jesus concludes that they are subject to Caesar and obligated to pay tax and tribute—they marveled and went away
 
 
When Jesus was trapped by the Pharisees, Herodians, and scribes—He responded to their entrapping question with a Divine Wisdom that makes the wisest men in the community appear foolish—Jesus’ response was “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”—although the Lord did not owe them an answer—and they certainly did not deserve it—Jesus gave these men the correct response—our Lord did not give either of the responses that would have condemned him before men—the Jewish leaders hoped He would condemn government—that he would speak out against it—but he doesn’t do it—instead He praised earthly government and commanded us to render unto government that which is due—it is His desire that there should be government officials that we must obey—whether we agree with them or not—a we must obey the powers and authorities of government because they were instituted by God
 
NKJ Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
 
 
Don’t concern yourself with those who abuse the power of government—they will answer for their actions someday—one must bear the authority of the ruler—we must obey strictly for God’s sake—let them impose taxes as intolerable as they may: we must obey them and suffer patiently—whether they do right or not—God will take care of it in due time—but what if they try to take the Gospel from us or forbid us to preach it?—then you are to say—“The Gospel and Word of God I will not give up to you.”—The things of God are not within the power of these worldly governments—government rule is a temporal rule over worldly matters—the Gospel is a spiritual, heavenly treasure—therefore government authority does not extend over the Gospel and God’s Word
 
We recognize government officials as master of temporal affairs—but not of God’s Word
 
NKJ Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
 
The Gospel is given to man by God—and the governments of this world have no authority over this gift of God—nor does the world have the authority to dictate how we worship God—Jesus said He built the Church upon the faith of men like Peter—and governments nor even Satan could overcome it
 
NKJ Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
 
Jesus beautifully summarizes these two things, and in one sentence and distinguishes them from each other: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”
 
Government has been ordained by God—to uphold general peace—but that peace is limited to a general peace in this world—God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to bring peace—the everlasting peace that is known only by God’s people—and that peace is free to believers—and cannot be bought by unbelievers even for all the money in the world
 
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!