Questions Asked About Paying Taxes to Caesar Matthew Mark Luke

							Questions Asked About Paying Taxes to Caesar

              Matthew 22:15-22

               Mark 12:13-17

                Luke 20:20-26
                 Question: Paying Taxes to Caesar

Texts:

Matthew 22:15-22,

15. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might
entangle him in his talk.
16. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians,
saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of
God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest
not the person of men.
17. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute
unto Caesar, or not?
18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye
me, ye hypocrites?
19. Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a
penny.
20. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21. They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God
the things that are God’s.
22. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him,
and went their way.

Mark 12:13-17,

13. And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the
Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know
that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the
person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: is it lawful to
give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15. Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their
hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny,
that I may see it.
16. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this
image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.
17. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And
they marveled at him.

Luke 20:20-26,

20. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign
themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so
they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the
governor.
21. And they asked him, saying, Master we know that thou sayest
and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but
teachest the way of God truly:
22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why
tempt ye me?
24. Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?
They answered and said, Caesar’s.
25. And he said unto them, render therefore unto Caesar the things
which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and
they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.

Introduction:

I. Rather than being led to repentance by the previous parables and
teachings of Jesus, they set about in earnest to kill him.
Commentary:

I. The Pharisees (perhaps of the Sanhedrin) got together sometime later
and devised a plan to entrap Jesus in his words, speech.

     A. These Pharisees were ready, no doubt, to misquote Jesus, put
        their spin on what he said, to twist what Jesus said to their own
        advantage.

II. Disciples of the Pharisees, spies along with the Herodians were sent
to Jesus for the purpose of entrapping him in his words.

     A. They may have appeared to have been ever so sincere, but in
        fact they were conniving hypocrites.

     B. They pretended to be honest.

     C. They were trying, hoping to catch Jesus in something he said
        that would give them an occasion, opportunity to hand him over
        to the power and authority of the governor.

     D. The Pharisees sent their disciples to do their “dirty work” for
        them. The Pharisees stayed out of sight on this occasion.

     E. Old enemies, Pharisees and Herodians, joined forces against
        Jesus.

III. First of all the spies tried to compliment Jesus and cause him to
answer imprudently; that is, with his guard down.

IV. They said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and you
teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” “... you speak and
teach what is right.” (NIV)
     A. Did they really believe this was a true character description of
        Jesus?

     B. If they did in fact believe Jesus was this type person, their
        behavior is seen to be even more reprehensible.

V. “You aren’t swayed by men, you do not show partiality because you
pay no attention to who they are.” (NIV)

     A. These Herodians and disciples of the Pharisees were certainly
        agile debaters and formidable opponents... to anyone less than
        divine.

VI. “Tell us then, what is your opinion?” (NIV)

VII. “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (NIV)

     A. “Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” (NIV) “Give us a “Yes” or
        “No” answer,” they said.

     B. Herodians ardently advocated Caesar’s cause and favored
        complete submission of Israel to Caesar’s government.

           1. The Pharisees cunningly included Herodians in the
              questioning group to further the charade.

           2. “If Jesus had said it was not lawful to pay Roman taxes the
              Herodians would have immediately had him arrested for
              sedition which was punishable by death.” (Coffman,
              Matthew page 351).

           3. If Jesus had said it was right to pay the hated Roman tax,
              his popularity would have been greatly reduced.
     C. The Pharisees were extremely crafty. They thought they had
        Jesus on the horns of a dilemma.

     D. The people were required to pay a poll tax to Rome as a symbol
        of their subjection to the emperor.

     E. Obviously the people detested this state of affairs, this tax.

     F. The spies spoke of “paying.” Jesus spoke of “giving back.”
        The connotations are vastly different.

VIII. What about today’s Christians and our responsibilities to the
government?

     A. Romans 13:1-7, Let every soul be subject unto the higher
        powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be
        are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power,
        resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive
        to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good
        works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the
        power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the
        same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if
        thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the
        sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to
        execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must
        needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’s
        sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s
        ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render
        therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due:
        custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom
        honor.

     B. 1 Timothy 2:1-6, I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
        supplications, prayers intercessions, and giving of thanks be
        made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority;
  that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
  honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
  Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
  the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one
  mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who
  gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

C. 1 Peter 2:13-17, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man
   for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or
   unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
   punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
   For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
   silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using
   your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of
   God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor
   the king.
          Questions Asked About Paying Taxes to Caesar

                              Questions

1. The parables studied in previous lessons did not lead Jesus’ enemies
to ______________.         To the contrary, they set about in
______________ to ______________ Jesus.

2. These ______________ devised a plan to ______________ Jesus in
his ______________, ______________. They were ready, no doubt, to
______________ Jesus, put their ______________ on what he said, to
______________ what Jesus said to their own ______________.

3. Why did the spies tell Jesus, “We know you are a man of integrity,
you speak and teach what is right?” _____________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

4. Why was “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar?” thought to have
been a good question with which to test Jesus? ____________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

5. What was Jesus’ answer to this question by which his enemies were
silenced? __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

6. What are our responsibilities as Christians to government? _________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

7. Would our responsibilities as Christians been different during World
War II had we been citizens of Germany or Japan rather than the United
States? ____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

8. Would these Christian responsibilities have varied in regard to
military service? ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________




Finished exam can be mailed or dropped off at:
Mason Street Church of Christ
2600 N. Mason Street
Appleton, WI 54914
920-734-0785