Payments to Government and God

BIBLE BITES

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Payments to Government and God

Have you ever thought of others when you hear teaching from the Bible? "Yes, this is a great message for Reuben. Maybe he'll smarten up. Hopefully, it won't go in one ear and out the other." It's possible to have the same reaction when you read the story of the Pharisees dispatching a crew to trick Jesus and to catch Him saying something that would get Him in trouble. I think: "Yes, Lord, give it to them.  Give them a response that will expose their own hearts!!"  But what about my own heart? When I read the Word of God, the first priority should be that it will expose my own heart.  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 big trick-and-trap question.  They buttered Him up with nice words and then they posed their carefully constructed question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"  If He said yes, then He'd be siding with the Romans and upsetting the Jews. If He said no, then 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, He took their own 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. He 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 stop 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 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 did not give to God what belonged to Him.  Even more striking - they were looking into the eyes of One who was God manifest in the flesh (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 took off! 

Are you thinking: "Yes, those testy pesky old Pharisees! He got them good again."  Oops! Caught you. Thinking of the implications His message had for others - but what about the implications for you? It is possible for me to hold back from the Lord that to which He is entitled. Am I giving to God what belongs to Him or is He merely getting my left-overs? 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, even when it is oh-so-scarce, to do little things that you like doing, 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."

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,

Warmly in Christ,

Peter Ramsay