Grudging Admiration - 24 November 2019

“Grudging Admiration”

Luke 20:19-26

24 November 2019 (SBC, Sligo IE)

INTRODUCTION:

I enjoy watching people do interesting things. Often, however, I find myself asking, “Why did he think that was a good idea?” or, “Whatever possessed him to do that?” The internet is replete with videos of humans doing strange things like riding a bicycle down a mountain on a trail no more than a hand width wide with cliffs on both sides of the trail or skiing off of sheer cliffs ahead of an avalanche or climbing Everest-type mountains during a blizzard. I confess that I don’t get it because those kinds of things don’t sound like fun to me, but I have grudging admiration for folks with that much grit and fortitude, even if I think they have a screw loose. Give the devil his due, I say.

TRANSITION:

Even though it’s not my cup of tea I recognize that credit should be given where credit is due. In our passage for today we hear Jesus say, “Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Brilliant! In saying this Jesus was telling the Jews that even if they didn’t like Caesar or Rome, they owed them a lawful debt that should be paid, even if grudgingly. Give the devil his due, He could have said. Pay the man what you owe him. 

In the context Jesus had just told the Parable of the Vineyard in 20:9-18. This was a compelling story and one in which the religious leaders could clearly see themselves as the bad guys in the narrative. They rightfully recognized that Jesus was talking about them and it made them as mad as old wet hens. Look at verse 19.

MAIN BODY:

Verse 19: The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. 

·         Luke shares three important facts in this verse:

1.      They made an attempt on His life right there and then, but it failed.

2.      There was a rift between the religious leaders and the common people in their attitudes toward Jesus. The big shots hated Him and would have loved to kill Him, but the people liked Him, and many believed in Him and didn’t think much of these super-religious dudes. So, they were in a delicate spot, wanting to get rid of Jesus without stirring up the anger of the rabble. Luke says they were actually afraid of the people.

3.      The religious leaders got the point of Jesus’ parable. Jesus was very transparent in His criticism of them and their animosity was mounting quickly. Look back at verse one of the chapter: “And it came about on one of the days while He was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the Gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, ‘Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?’” These guys can barely contain their rage.

Verse 20: So, they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.

·         “…they watched Him” meaning they watched Him with evil intent, just like back in Luke 6:7 – “And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath; in order that they might find reason to accuse Him.” So, you see, this was nothing new.

·         How many people are there today who do the same thing? They pretend to be religious. They try to give the impression of being righteous so that people will respect and admire them but underneath they are nothing of the sort.

·         …”so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.” They knew that only Pilate could condemn Jesus to death. This is the first mention of this plot to “deliver Him up” and Luke is the only Gospel writer to include it but we can see that from this point on this became the focus of their efforts.  

Verse 21: They [the spies] questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.”

·         This was spoken like the true hypocrites these men were. Their words were dripping with sarcasm and was also an outright lie. The scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests who sent these spies believed nothing of the sort. They had accused Jesus repeatedly of being a blasphemer and false teacher. They regarded Him as a heretic and a false prophet worthy only of death. This is what you call, “buttering someone up.” It was shameless flattery and it failed miserably.  

Verse 22: “Is it lawful for us to pay [lit. give] a poll tax to Caesar, or not?” 

·         Matthew’s Gospel tells us that the Herodians were the ones who came up with this question because they wanted to push the Romans out of Palestine and re-establish the house of Herod over Israel. So, this is the zinger, the trick question that the leaders thought up thinking it would be Jesus’ undoing. The Jews hated the Romans and they were forever debating whether or not they should pay the hated poll tax or refuse.

·         What’s funny to me about this situation is that Jesus played this same trick on them back in 20:2-8 when He posed a question to them that put them in a bind no matter which answer they gave. Now they are returning the favour. It’s like watching a game of verbal tennis. The problem (for them) was that Jesus was just a lot better at playing the game.

Verses 23-24: But He detected their trickery and said to them, ²⁴ “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.”

·         “He detected their trickery…” Well, of course He did. Could anyone ever put one over on Jesus? I don’t think so. He knows our thoughts, our deepest secrets. He knows about our hurts and private pain. He knows when we are being truthful and when we are being deceptive.

·         As I said, the question was a loaded one designed to trap Jesus. Had He said “Yes” – to pay tribute to Caesar, then He would have been seen as sympathetic to the Romans. If He had said “No” – not to paid tribute to Caesar, then He would have been in violation of the law and therefore subject to arrest by Rome. Instead, the method He adopted in dealing with the question is a masterpiece!

·         Jesus turned to them and said, “Show Me a denarius.” Every Jew from 14-65 owed one denarius per year as a tax for existing. The denarius was a Roman silver coin stamped on the “heads” side with a likeness of Tiberius. Does this mean that Jesus did not have any money? We don’t know, but at least He made His enemies produce the coin for the object lesson.  

Verse 25: And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

·         They were using the legal tender of the Roman Empire. Rome did provide certain advantages and privileges. She maintained law and order, at least by her standards, and provided certain protections. She maintained roads and kept the sea lanes open. She had a universal currency system that was an aid to business throughout the Empire. Without doubt, the Jews owed Rome something for the use of coins, roads, aqueducts, and law and order. Caesar had something coming to him that was his due.

·         But God had something coming to Him also. He provided all the light, air, water, and elements from which those roads and coins were made. Christians live in two realms and have responsibilities in both. We have both an earthly and an heavenly obligation. As citizens of Heaven we pay taxes down here on earth, but as pilgrims and strangers here we should be depositing eternal wealth up in Heaven. It’s a funny paradox.

Verse 26: And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

·         Jesus closed the mouths of the lions. These guys were all ready to eat Him up, to tear Him limb from limb, but suddenly they lost all their strength and backed down and became like sheep—silent and docile. They had been whipped and they knew it.

·         They were “unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people.” This means they were unable to make Him say something in public they could use against Him to deliver Him over to Pilate. He was just too smart for them and He slipped through their net yet once again.

·         “…and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.” This was not the first time that Jesus had amazed people, including His critics.

1.      Matthew 7:28 – When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching.

2.      Mark 11:18 – The chief priests and the scribes heard this and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

3.      Matthew 9:8 – But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God.

4.      Matthew 15:31 – So, the crowd marvelled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

5.      Mark 2:12 – And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

6.      Matthew 9:33 – After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

CONCLUSION:

There are at least three themes/principles that I see in this passage:

1.      Give the secular world its due. Pay your taxes, show respect for law enforcement officers, obey the laws, pray for our leaders, and be a good citizen (cf. Romans 13:1-7). It’s true that we are citizens of Heaven but for here and now we are also citizens in this world here below, and we should be good ones if we wish to be taken seriously. The more Christian a man is, the better citizen he will be. 1 Peter 2:17 instructs us: “Honour all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.”

2.      You can’t fool Jesus with your religious exterior and rotten interior. He can see right through you. He knows a phoney when He sees one. You may be able to fool people into believing that you are noble and religious and the best Christian ever, but you can’t fool God so don’t even try. Walk in holiness and integrity. Ask the Lord to help you to live a life of transparency where nothing is hidden, and everything is as it seems.

3.      Be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is in you. Wise words fitly spoke can stop criticism. We all should be ready to give a verbal defence of the Gospel and of our faith in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Remember that a Spirit-filled answer can close the mouths of the lions.