Some ThingsWhich Belong

to the Lord

Matthew 22:15-22

Background

• The Tuesday of Jesus’ last week was a long day spent in teaching (from Mt. 21:18 to Mt. 26:1)

• The Jews (scribes, Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees) had been asking Jesus questions – 4 in all (21:23; 22:17; 22:28; 22:36). Each question was asked in order to trap Jesus.

Background

• The parallel accounts are found in Mk. 12:13-17 and Lk. 20:20-26

• Note the following…

– The men: disciples of the Pharisees & Herodians

– The motive: to ensnare, to trap

– The method: hypocrisy, flattery, craftiness

“Ti[berivs] Caesar Divi Avg[vsti] F[ilivs] Avgvstvs” (“Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus”)

Background

• Two lessons are taught here…

– It is not state (Caesar) or religion (God); but, state and religion

– Respect what belongs to another; give them (render) their due; do not keep back what rightly belongs to another

Render Unto Caesar

• Our obedience to the laws (Rom. 13:1-5; 1 Pet. 2:13-15; Tit. 3:1)

• Our taxes (Rom. 13:6-7; comp. Mt. 17:24-27)

• Our prayers (1 Tim. 2:1-2)

Render Unto God

• Ultimately, everything belongs to the Lord (Psa. 24:1)

• Let us consider a few things that belong to God that we forget about

Render Unto God

• The church

– It is not “my church,” etc.

– It is the Lord’s church (Mt. 16:18; Acts 20:28; Rom. 16:16)

Render Unto God

• The title “Reverend”

– This description belongs to God, not to preachers (Psa. 111:9)

– We need the attitude of Job (32:21-22)

Render Unto God

• Honor and glory

– Too many take glory to themselves rather than giving glory to God (Acts. 12:20-24)

– We give glory to God by being a member of his church (Eph. 3:21) and by our good works (Mt. 5:16)

Render Unto God

• Worship

– Religious people often worship themselves, angels, idols, etc. (Acts 10:25-26; 14:13-15; Rev. 22:8-9)

– Sunday is the “Lords’ day”; we owe God our presence in worship (Heb. 10:25)

Render Unto God

• The Lord’s supper

– It is not an entertainment or social meal (1 Cor. 11:20ff)

– It is to be eaten as he directs (Mt. 26:26ff; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:24)

Render Unto God

• Vengeance

– When someone does evil toward us, it is not our place to retaliate; vengeance belongs to God (Deut. 32:35; Psa. Psa. 94:1; Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30)

– We are not “in the place of God” (Gen. 50:19)

Render Unto God

• Salvation

– Various religions have their own “plan of salvation”; but, salvation belongs to the Lord (Psa. 3:8; 62:11-12)

– Salvation is what Jesus and his apostles say (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:21; etc.)

What About You?

• Do you give tribute to Caesar, but not to God (Herodians)?

• Do you give tribute to God, but not to Caesar (Pharisees)?

• Is your life unbalanced? Are you a great citizen of the USA, but a poor citizen of the kingdom of God?

What About You?

• Your best service to one, does not free you from your duty to the other!

• Give to God what belongs to God! Start by giving your life in obedience to his word!