Good Morning Friends,
“Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies,
who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so
that they might hand him over to the governor. 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. Is it
right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ He saw through their duplicity and
said, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?’
‘Caesar's,’ they replied. He said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar what is
Caesar's, and to God what is God's.’ They were unable to trap him in what he
had said there in public. Astonished by his answer, they became silent.” (Luke
20:20-26)
There are multiple things in this short passage
that are worth talking about.
There is the deceptive scheming and hateful
opposition of the priests and teachers of the law. They weren’t out front in
their opposition. They schemed and spied trying to trick and trap Jesus. These
were supposed to be men of God, but they acted in such ungodly ways.
There is the incredible discernment and deep
wisdom of Jesus. He saw through the schemes and defused them. He offered an
answer to the question that was posed by His enemies. Although the question was
meant to trap Him, He answered it with a straightforward and honest answer that
showed such wisdom that not even His enemies could argue with it.
There is the principle found in the answer
itself. Jesus provided a fundamental principle about life – we give to
authority what is rightfully due them and we withhold those things that are not
rightfully due. God is due our ultimate allegiance and unquestioning obedience.
Government is due its imposed taxes that provide for the services they give.
Other authorities are due other things.
Do you see the incredible wisdom of Jesus? Are
you honoring Him for that wisdom? Are you submitting to His wisdom?
Are you giving to God what is rightfully due to
Him?
His, by Grace, Steve
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