Is it Lawful? | Sunday, November 1, 2020

So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent. — Luke 20:20-26

Two days before an election, Jesus answers His enemies with a truth that unsettles us all: render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.

His Ways Are Not My Ways

One of the most challenging things I've faced as a follower of Jesus is the realization that His ways are not my ways. I don't typically struggle to figure out what I want to do; the challenge comes when I get the sinking feeling that what I want to do, or am doing, is not in line with what God would have me do.

Nearly 3,000 years ago God spoke to Isaiah, saying, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord." This whole year has been a long lesson in submitting my ways, my will, my plans and desires to the Lord's. Those are challenging lessons, and I won't say I've fully learned them—there's a long way to go. I wish I could say I endure these lessons patiently and obediently, but I can't, because I haven't, not always.

Under Construction

My great encouragement in all of this is what Paul shares as his confidence in Philippians 1:6: "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." We are all under construction.

I remember a bright orange t-shirt from a junior high camp years ago. It had a huge diamond-shaped construction sign in the middle that read, "Under construction—expect delays." I could wear that shirt with pride. Routinely I have to remind myself that I, and all those people I so easily get impatient with, are under construction. God alone is perfect, and He is perfectly patient with our imperfections. That is something to aspire to—being patient with other people's imperfections.

My earnest hope and prayer through everything we've experienced in 2020 is that you and I would continue to grow in our Christlikeness. One of God's aims is to make us more and more into His likeness, that we would take on His character and nature.

A Nation at a Critical Moment

As you well know, we are two days from local, state, and federal elections. At the beginning of 2020 I expected a year of chaos because of the elections, and it has been chaotic—because of the elections and dozens of other circumstances as well. I hope and pray the elections will begin to dispel some of the chaos, though they may introduce more. One can hope and pray for an easing of all this.

At times like this, many Christians are reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." I'll be the first to acknowledge that this text speaks in context to Israel several thousand years ago, but I believe there is application for us. As Solomon's Proverbs say, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people"—and that is generally true for all people at all times.

So pray for God's grace, mercy, and peace for our nation. What happens here in the U.S. has reverberating effects on the whole world. And recognize that whatever happens, God is still sovereign and still on His throne. In Isaiah 6, King Uzziah died in shame after a proud and arrogant final 15 years—yet "in the year that King Uzziah died," Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord, high and lifted up, seated upon a throne." Whatever happens in our nation, God is enthroned in heaven and still working.

A Topical Detour

During this chaotic year we have been slowly moving through Deuteronomy, and I have no immediate plans to change course. But from time to time it's necessary to deviate. For those passionate about getting into Deuteronomy this morning, I regret to inform you I'm going to speak topically today, because I believe it's relevant to the cultural moment we find ourselves in on November 1, 2020.

I've been impressed by a number of events in the life of Jesus, and one is found in Luke 20—fittingly, Luke 20:20. The story appears in Matthew and Mark as well. I love when Jesus silences His opponents in the Gospels.

Strange Bedfellows: Pharisees and Herodians

When we read that "they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous," the "they" is the religious establishment in Jerusalem. The spies were Pharisees and Herodians. Among the Jews of Jesus's day there were many religious and political factions—Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees, Essenes, zealots, and Herodians—each with their own beliefs and traditions, mostly at odds with one another. Very little has changed in 2,000 years.

These two groups could not have been further apart. The Herodians were sympathetic to Rome and walked in lockstep with Herod, a puppet vassal of the empire. The Pharisees were exceedingly Jewish, detested Rome's occupation, and disliked Herod. There was virtually nothing that brought them together except their mutual hatred for Jesus. Early in Jesus's ministry, after He healed a lame man on the Sabbath in Capernaum, Mark 3:6 says, "Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him."

Here is an important point, one that might irritate a few people: when the hyper-religious marry the hyper-political, the outcome is often very anti-Jesus. Don't read into that some anti-voting message—that's not the case at all. I've already voted; I have my ballot and my sticker right here. I'm not saying you shouldn't be involved in politics. You should. But when religious people put their hope in political leaders, the outcome is rarely godly.

Jesus said to Pilate as He stood trial, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered over to the Jews; but My kingdom is not of this world." It is striking how quickly moral convictions like "Thou shalt not murder" can be thrown out in favor of political expediency.

Pretend Righteousness

The spies "pretended to be righteous." These Pharisees were hyper-religious, but their religiosity was incredibly shallow—a mile wide and an inch deep. Their righteousness was a thin veneer; a few swipes of sandpaper would expose the sham.

But let's recognize that any righteousness you and I could produce would be no different. Our own righteousness is always pretend before a holy God; as Isaiah 64:6 says, it is "as filthy rags." This is why Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

There is no ultimate hope in religion, and no ultimate hope in politics. Ultimate hope is found only in the righteousness Jesus gives. For true and lasting hope we must be clothed in the garments of salvation, the robe of Christ's righteousness. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul wrote, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

The Trap and the Flattery

The pretenders waited for an opportunity, failing to recognize that all the power and authority of the governor was subject to the power and authority of Jesus. Then they came with flattery: "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth." Those who feign righteousness are often adept at religious flattery. Every teacher has been buttered up like this. All of what they said was true, but they believed none of it. Beware when all people speak well of you.

Then came their prime question, intended to trip Him up: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" They thought they had Jesus in a catch-22—a Kafka trap nearly 1,900 years before Kafka. For the Herodians loyal to Herod and Rome, a "no" meant the immediate charge of sedition, punishable by death. For the Pharisees who hated Rome, a "yes" would put Him at odds with the common people and the religious establishment. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Render to Caesar, Render to God

But "He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 'Why do you test Me?'" Never forget: Jesus sees right through our sham righteousness, knows our true motivations, and is wise enough to answer our seemingly unanswerable questions, "because the foolishness of God is wiser than men."

He said, "Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" From archaeology we know the denarius of that day bore the image of Tiberius Caesar and the inscription "Caesar, son of the divine Augustus." Caesar was worshiped as an incarnate god, and for the Pharisees especially, paying the Roman tax with that coin was akin to idolatry. Everyone leaned in, waiting. And He said, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Be honest—you kind of wish Jesus had a different answer. Several of His closest disciples were hyper-nationalistic, patriotic Jews who hated Rome's occupation and expected Him to ascend the throne and cast off Roman rule. Given the opportunity to speak contemptuously of Rome, He instead commands them to pay their taxes. Even if you've read this passage before, part of you wishes He'd say something else.

What Bears His Image?

But Jesus goes further. He says render to Caesar the things that bear Caesar's image and inscription, and render to God the things that bear His image and inscription. Which begs the question: what is it that you and I have that bears God's image?

You don't have to read far into the Bible to find the answer. Genesis 1:26-27: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

The rulers of this world expect to receive taxes, customs, fear, and honor—and God incarnate says render to the earthly rulers their due. Paul reiterates this in Romans 13: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God... For he is God's minister to you for good... For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers... Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."

I can feel it—I don't think I'm getting too many likes on this message. The rulers of this world expect taxes, customs, fear, and honor, and God expects that we yield to Him all honor, glory, and praise forever. I would suggest that had Israel been faithful to God in that way 2,000 years ago, they might not have experienced the oppression of Rome and its harsh taskmasters. This response is what Paul calls our right and reasonable service, our proper worship.

Speechless Before Christ

The Herodians and Pharisees heard Jesus's response, but they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. They marveled at His answer and kept silent. They were speechless. They were certain that whether He said yes or no they had Him—and instead He left them with nothing to say.

These are heavy things to think about a couple of days before an election. We cannot ultimately put our hope in politics, nor in our own religious efforts. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ; it must be firmly fixed upon Him. Yes, we should be involved in the leadership of our nation. Yes, we should vote. Yes, we should use our freedom of speech, religion, and expression, and all the liberties protected in our Constitution. But ultimately, at the end of the day, my hope and your hope must be in Christ Jesus.

Closing Prayer

Father, I pray that You would drive these truths home to us, and that we would be diligent to render unto You what is Yours—that we would offer our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto You, which is our proper worship, our reasonable service, our only right response to what You have done. And God, we pray that You would transform us by the renewing of our minds, so that we would be able to display in this world what is Your good and perfect will. Do that work in us, we pray. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.