2016-10-02: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – Paying Taxes to Caesar

Sermon Audio: Paying Taxes to Caesar
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:19-26
Duration: 22:45
Size: 10.4 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Paying Taxes to Caesar
Luke 20:19-26

My point is simply to say that it is difficult to understand the relationship between politics and religion.

I. The Setting

No country rabbi from the backwoods of Galilee was going to upset their good life.

At this point Jesus was still extremely popular with the people, and so if anything were to happen to Jesus the people would rise up against their own leaders.

II. The Question

Anyway, the spies were flattering Jesus because they wanted to set him up for their trap.

They decided that the question the spies should pose to Jesus should be answered only in one of two ways – just like the one Jesus gave to them!

If Jesus told people to go ahead and pay the tax, many Jews would consider him a traitor to the cause of his people.

A man who told people not to pay their taxes would be swiftly arrested and severely punished.

III. The Answer

Instead of giving a yes/no answer, Jesus really gave the spies two answers.

And Jesus says it is not only lawful, it is in fact obligatory, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s”.

We must resist the authority of the government when asked to violate a command of God.

The coin belonged to Caesar because it bore his image, and we are God’s because we bear his image!

IV. The Reaction

One cannot match wits with Jesus and come out on top!