Who Died And Made You Boss – Part 2
Luke 20:20-26
“Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” vs. 22
Getting It Out Of You
A man on vacation was strolling along outside his hotel in Acapulco, enjoying the sunny Mexican weather. Suddenly, he was attracted by the screams of a woman kneeling in front of a child. The man knew enough Spanish to determine that the boy had swallowed a coin. Seizing the child by the heels, the man held him up, gave him a few shakes, and an American quarter dropped to the sidewalk. “Oh, thank you sir!” cried the woman. “You seemed to know just how to get it out of him. Are you a doctor?” “No, ma’am,” replied the man. “I’m with the United States Internal Revenue Service.” (Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, p. 5.)
I thought that was a pretty good story for this time of year. So, have you done your taxes yet? Have you filed? Had to write that check to the IRS? I know we have done our taxes but my wife cracks me up. When we have to write a check, she waits til the very last day you can mail it to mail it. She doesn’t want the government to get that check too soon. I would venture to say that most of us feel that same way. Taxes seem like a necessary evil to most of us. But you know, taxes have been around a long time. Jesus talked about taxes in Luke 20. If you’re able, please stand while we read Luke 20:1-8 and 20-29.
Read Passage – Luke 20:9-19
Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” 3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?” 5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” 8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
Authority Questioned
We began our study of this passage last week. Let me recap what is happening. Plain and simple, the “religious authorities” want to kill Jesus. That’s what we read in chapter 19 verse 47. It’s not really what we like to see our religious leaders dabble in. Until they could find a way and a time to do that, they want to make him look bad in front of the crowds of people that are following him. In this passage here they are questioning his authority.
“Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” Luke 20:2
Now get this, they have a plan, a pretty sneaky and ingenious plan to trap him in his words. They have come up with what seems to be the perfect scenario. To understand it let me give you a quick understanding of what the Israelites are dealing with; The Romans. They have come in and overtaken Israel and the Israelites are an oppressed people. They are slaves in in their own land and the Romans treat them poorly. They let them have their religion to try to appease them but they are oppressive to them on every other front. This is especially true when it came to taxes. They made it tough on the Israelites. It was hard to keep up with the taxes imposed on them so they really despised the Romans.
Caught Between Two Worlds
Now the ingenious plan. The religious leaders have a question that is sure to get Jesus in hot water. It’s a question that men and women struggle with all the time and the core issue of the question is the difficulty we feel about being caught between two worlds; the civil world and the spiritual world. We believe and have religious commitments but how do we balance that with the ways of the world. How can we be in the world and not of the world? Really, can these worlds get along and if so, what does it look like? Most of us struggle with that. Can I be a good Christian person and yet be a successful, relevant, liked, person in society? Can they co-mingle?
So the religious leaders get some guys who are really good with words and secretly, covertly, send them as spies in to mix with the crowd. They are to blend in and at the right time, pow!, ask Jesus a question that is sure to trip him up and ruin his credibility.
Ex. Ever been around someone who is trying to trick you and you can see right through them?
Listen how they go in, verse 21-22:
“Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” vss. 21-22
Notice first they call him teacher. They used language that true followers of Jesus would use. Then they really lay it on thick by telling him that they he is right and level headed and would never say anything that would contradict God and the truth. Oh, these guys are good. Then they hit from what they think is the blind side. Ah, Jesus, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar?
Notice the shrewdness in the question. If he answers “no” he has just gone against the ruling authorities and he could be arrested and tried for treason. If he says “yes” the crowd is going to go wild because they hate the Romans and “gentile” ways and paying their taxes was oppressive and they despised giving their money to those guys.
Jesus’ Authority Affirmed
The trap is set and they can’t wait for the answer because it is sure to discredit Jesus and ruin the authority that people are giving him and really that he is claiming. What we will now see is just how good Jesus is. How Jesus, in this brilliant answer, affirms his authority.
- Civil Responsibility
First, he addresses the whole issue of societal responsibility. The first part of his answer in 24-25a:
“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s…” vss. 24-25a
Jesus encourages the them to pay their taxes! What? Before you think he has sold out to the Romans think about it this way. Jesus has always been responsible with his civic duties. In Matthew 17 there is a story of Jesus needing to pay the temple tax. He is questioned about it and he tells Peter to go down to the river and catch a fish and in the fish’s mouth is some coins and to pay the tax. Great story. But the bottom line is that Jesus paid his taxes just like everyone else. It’s safe to assume that he paid his taxes when he was working as a carpenter. He set the example for us. He encouraged his disciples and he encourages us to be people that support our community. Let me explain this from a passage Paul wrote in Romans 13:
“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Romans 13:6-7
We trust that God will work through our governmental authorities and we hope that our leaders will look to God in all their decision making even though we know there are many that don’t look to God. So we are called to trust God in this way too and this affirms Jesus authority because God as put all things under his authority (Matt. 28) and that includes the governing authorities. I have to admit, though, this is hard.
Ex. My first real job was working in a silk screen shop helping to screen the front of video games. I wanted to buy a car and was so excited to get that first pay check. I remember thinking, “Okay I make $5.25 and hour and I worked 20 hours last week so I’ll get a check for $105 and that is my first step toward my car. But when my check came, it was only like $85. And I’m going, “What?” What is FDIC and what is State tax and then there were these little $1 and $2 things. I’m thinking “Who is taking my money?” I earned that. Then the kicker. My parents sit me down and have “the talk.” No not the bird and the bees, the tithe talk. You mean I have to give $8 more to God? The answer was no. Whew! What, $10.50? Yes it is off the gross not the net. My car didn’t come as quickly as I had hoped. It was bike riding for me for a few more months.
- Spiritual Responsibility
And that is the second thing Jesus addresses, our spiritual responsibility. So he continues his answer in 25b:
“Then give back..to God what is God’s.” vs. 25b
What an answer! He nails it. The point that Jesus makes is that we have just as much of a spiritual responsibility as we do a civic responsibility. This is a concept that goes all the back to the beginning of time. God asks us to bring him a gift as well. In Exodus, when he establishes the temple, he implements the tithe. It was a way to make sure his house is taken care of and that the temple workers, the Levites, were taken care of.
I was thinking the other day that it is our tendency to take care of our houses and our things before we take care of God’s. We are short money some months or short because of vacations or Christmas or birthdays, etc. and one of the first places we think of “cutting back” is the money we bring to God. Isn’t it interesting that the government take theirs right out of our check and God asks for us to joyfully bring our tithe to his house? I think it’s because the government is a civic responsibility and with God it is a heart issue. Listen to how Solomon put it in Ecc. 5:19:
“Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” Ecc. 5:19
Our possessions and finances are a gift from God (Solomon’s words). He gives us the strength to do our jobs, the jobs themselves, the ability and wisdom to excel in certain areas, etc. It is all a gift from God. He in turn asks us for a gift back. Sometimes we are reluctant to acknowledge his gift.
Ill. The number of people that ask me to pray about finding or getting a job.
Ex. Recently we have been in a bit of a financial crisis. We were behind in some of our bills and one was really glaring. We just didn’t have the money coming in to pay all the bills. This is where I was so proud as a pastor. People have stepped up and given. Way above their normal tithe. We had two outstanding bets. One of almost $20,000.00 and one of almost $10,000.00. I cans stand here and thank you from the bottom of my heart that you took care of God’s house. The $20k debt is gone and we have made a significant dent in the $10k.
Amazed Again
The story has a great ending. These ingenious men and there plan to secretly trap Jesus and discredit him backfires, verse 26:
“They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.” Luke 20:26
They were unable to trap him. His answer stuns them. They are speechless. They don’t know what to say, they can only walk away. Guess what? Jesus is the authority!
A lot of people struggle to live the Christian life and feel caught between two worlds. You don’t need to. Let me challenge you as we close. Do you believe in the authority of Jesus Christ? How does this show up in your life? I think many of us struggle because we know about the authority of Jesus but we haven’t trusted him, and I mean trust him 100%. What are you holding back? Money? Something in your heart? Maybe giving Jesus complete authority in your life?
Let me add one more verse to this, it’s a verse that comes from the book of Job, but not from Job himself, it comes from one of his friends who doesn’t always give him the best advise, but even guys who get a lot of things wrong, can sometimes get something right; it comes from Eliphaz in Job 22:21:
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21
Eliphaz is actually on to something here, he actually has a nugget of truth within all his hot air. When we submit to God we find the peace we are looking for. When we give Jesus the authority in our life, we find peace. We don’t find it in the money, in the power, in the prestige, or in anything else. Only in Jesus. And I think when we really do turn everything over to him, we might just be like those guys trying to fool Jesus but in a good way. We will be stunned, shocked, and speechless because we will finally find the peace we really want.
