October 21, 2020
To the saints of Grace Baptist Church of Dallas, Oregon
Blessings on you in the mighty name of Jesus!
With Election Day less than two weeks away I want to encourage you to vote. You should have received your ballots in the mail, (I did) and now it is time to fill them out for the candidate of your choice. I got mine in this week. Many Christians, however, do not vote for one reason or another—and this has never made sense to me? My friend, David Crowe, of Restore America, has said for years that only about half of the Christians in this country are registered to vote. And of those that are registered, about only half of those vote. Some believers feel that they are not obligated to vote, since they are citizens of heaven, see Philippians 3:20. Others feel like God will put in office who He wants regardless of our vote. Still others want to avoid politics altogether since it is of this world. So then, would Jesus have believers vote in today’s election?
I believe He would urge us to cast our vote, as this is our minimal civic duty. This is a nation that is built on “We the people, for the people, and by the people.” Hence it requires people, including God’s people, for this nation to work. It is also a nation that has as its motto, “In God we trust.” However, I think there is diminishing trust in an Almighty God today coupled with a transcending trust in an almighty government. Perhaps one of the outcomes of this current Covid-19 pandemic will help reverse this trend and begin to point our nation back to God. I am praying for revival these days. May God’s people be trusting in their Almighty God in this distressing time. Amen!
In Matthew 22:15-22 we have this well-known story of Jesus that I believe will help shed light on how we are to live. Listen to these words again:
“15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”
To be sure, there was plenty of politics in Jesus’ day. Rome ruled Judea, and the Jews hated being under their thumb. In Jerusalem you had a number of different groups with varying agendas. The Pharisees hated the Romans, and paying taxes to them was an ongoing reminder that they were in subjection to them. That coupled with the fact that Caesar claimed to be god, and he said so on their coins, was an insult to their religion. The Herodians were the party supporting Herod and they favored the tax. Since Rome had put Herod in power, this tax helped maintain Rome’s support. Their influence and power then came from Herod. In Jesus’ day, Herod the Great had died just after Jesus’ birth, and the nation was divided in to four parts and given to his sons. The Herodians saw Jesus as a threat. They had lost political control when, as a result of reported unrest, Rome had deposed Archelaus (Herod’s son with authority over Judea) and had replaced him with a Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The Herodians feared that Jesus would cause still more instability in Judea and that Rome might react by never replacing the Roman leaders with a descendant of Herod. So there was much tension in Jesus’ day much like we find in our day.
It is not surprising then that a trap is laid for Jesus regarding this dueling priority of serving God or obeying Caesar. We see the “set-up” in verse 15 and 16. The Pharisees initiated the trap for Jesus. They would trap Him in His words… (Nothing has changed really—people are still trying to trap political leaders in their words.). The plot thickens… notice that they send their disciples, and not themselves. The language suggests that these were young men, perhaps a guise of innocence? Couple them with the Herodians and they have a perfect opportunity for a debate on the matter. Who’s right about this? We will appeal this to the “Great Teacher” for His wise advice to help us with this dilemma. Notice then how they flatter Jesus. Now flattery is defined as “excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one’s own interest.” They call Him “Teacher,” a term of respect—certainly He will give us the right answer! They call Him a man of integrity, which He was—far more than they would ever comprehend; but they meant it to compel Him to answer their question in a certain way. And they say that He teaches the way of God “in accordance with the truth,” no doubt implying that He should answer as a Pharisee would since they believed themselves the purveyors of God’s truth. So Jesus, what is Your opinion? Is it right or not to pay taxes to Caesar? The trap was set, baited with the innocence of the pressing question of the day.
But it says that Jesus knew their evil intent, vs. 18. In fact, Jesus knows all of our evil intents. John says that, “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person,” John 2:25. And this is still true today. We all struggle with the evil within, our fallen nature. And the natural man figures that you only go around once in life so they will manipulate that intent to best suit themselves. This evil intent is the result of the fall, and resides in all humans. It is called sin. Fundamentally it is a rebellion from God’s rule. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. Jesus knew very well their (and our) evil intent, for this is the reason He came to earth so that He could make atonement for sin.
Not only did they have evil intent, but Jesus calls them out as hypocrites. In the language of the day, a hypocrite was a “play actor, one who wore a mask at the theater.” The word found its way into English and is now defined as “someone who practices hypocrisy, who pretends to hold beliefs, or whose actions are not consistent with their claimed beliefs.” So now the Lord is fully aware that these guys were not sincere, but were trying to trap Him. By the way, the flattery was a tip-off. In Proverbs 29: 5 we read, “Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.”
The Pharisees and the Herodians presented Jesus with a hypothetical “either or.” But what He was going to teach them, and us, is that this is really a “both and.” In verse 19 He requests the coin used for paying the tax. Reportedly this would have been a denarius, a coin representing about a day’s wage. Naturally it would have Caesar’s image on it, and Jesus called it out by asking: “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” Now, when Jesus asks a question, He is NOT looking for information. He knew what was on the coin. The point being He wanted to emphasize to them who was on the coin. They gave the right answer. It was in fact “Caesar’s” image and inscription. So now, Jesus has these guys right where He wants them—anticipating the answer. He makes a wonderful application here which helps us in our own heated political climate.
First, Jesus tells them to “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” The implication is that Caesar is owed something. This is why we pay taxes. These taxes pay for roads, relief programs, safety and protection, a government that works for the people. These are all necessary for societies to thrive. Jesus doesn’t condemn Caesar, neither does He discount Caesar, rather He validates Caesar. Paul tells us more in his letter to the Romans saying, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 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.” See Romans 13:1-7. When Paul wrote this letter, Nero was on the throne. In our day, taxes are still owed, and votes are required to help direct the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Then, Jesus tells them we also owe God something. The “coin” had Caesar’s image on it, but we as created beings have God’s image on us. In Genesis 1:26-27 we read: “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” In other words, that which has God’s image on it, (humans) is to pay back to God what is God’s. We are to give God our due. We owe Him our praise, gratitude, obedience, honor and respect. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price… the price of Jesus’ blood, shed for us. See 1 Cor. 6:19-20. We owe Him our lives… lived in gratitude to Him. Since we are citizens of heaven, Phil. 3:20 and citizens in this world—we have a mandate to honor both God and Caesar. And to be sure, we honor God first, and honor Caesar as servants of God, looking to honor God by obeying Him in this matter. It is not an “either or”, but a “both and” situation. Let’s not forsake our minimal civic duty of voting in our attempt to live solely for God. Jesus made it clear: We owe something here.
“God Bless Our Native Land,” Siegfried A. Mahlmann, vs. 1,2; William E. Hickson, vs. 3
“God bless our native land; Firm may she ever stand Through storm and night:
When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind and wave,
Do Thou our country save, By Thy great might.
For her our prayer shall rise To God above the skies; On Him we wait;
Thou who are ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye,
To Thee aloud we cry, God save the State!
Not for this land alone, But be God’s mercies shown From shore to shore:
And may the nations see That men should brothers be,
And form one family The wide world o’er.
(Sung to the same tune as “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”)
Benediction:
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6 (NIV2011)
Pastor Russ Hilsinger
Grace Baptist Church of Dallas, OR
P.S. Other church news… Last week we took down the large cedar tree which stood in front of the building. I want to thank a good number of men and some ladies for their help in this project. This really opened up the front of the church and gave us a lot more light. This will help us keep the entryway cleaner without the tree debris falling on it.
Update: Don Goyer is still in the hospital and will be there a bit longer. He is being evaluated for a possible pacemaker. Please keep him in prayer.
Also, Wayne Parks is in the hospital at this time. He was to have a little heart work, but they found out that he needs a little more than expected. He should be home this weekend.
Lastly, this Covid-19 situation still lingers, and cases are rising in our State. Please be mindful to wash your hands and cover your face when out and about. We love you and miss you all. By no means bring any symptoms to church or anywhere else. Take care of yourself. We love you and hope to see you when possible. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to talk. I’m available for you. Call me at 503.586.6727.