Pentecost 2011 [Proper 24] – “What Do You Think?” Matt. 22:15-22

 

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.  The text for our sermon meditation is taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew, the 22nd Chapter:

 

            “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.  They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.  "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

            But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  Show me the coin used for paying the tax."

            They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

            "Caesar's," they replied.  Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

 

So far the reading.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

            The horns of a dilemma are never pleasant to consider.  It does not matter which answer you give you will end up skewered on one of the horns.  We are seeing the election year beginning to take shape.  Candidates for President are already jockeying for position within their respective party hoping to gain the nomination and support needed to be considered a viable candidate for the highest office in the country.  To obtain such nomination they must endure endless questioning from all sides.  Some of the questions seek clarification.  Other questions are designed to trap the candidates to reveal inconsistencies and outright lies.  We would call such questioning the horns of a dilemma.  Neither answer is going to get them elected, because both answers are wrong.  What do you think?

 

            Such was the desire of the Pharisees in the Gospel reading.  They were presenting Jesus with what they thought were the horns of a dilemma.  They were hoping that Jesus would impale himself on one of the horns in order to undermine his ministry and message.  They desired to find some evidence on which to stop Jesus’ teaching.  They thought they had discovered the means by which they would get rid of this thorn in their side.  So they ask Jesus, “What do you think?”

 

            It is very clear what the motive was behind this question.  Matthew writes this commentary on the event.  He says:

 

            “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.  They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.        "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

 

            Beware of the butter.  Is it not the way of man that we try to appeal to someone’s vanity to get what we want?  We will try to appeal to the good side of someone by telling them good things about themselves in order that we may gain benefit from them.  Oh, you look nice today.  I really like your hair.  If you really loved me ....  Do you want to be nice to me?  You said you would do anything for me.  You have set the trap.  You wait for the only answer you planned to receive.  The person to whom you speak can do nothing other than what is asked of them.

 

            Such was the intention of the Pharisees and the Herodians with regard to Jesus.  They did not see Jesus as an ally.  Nether did they see Jesus in any way, shape, or form granting them any advantage in their present earthly status.  The Pharisees enjoyed the honor of the people because of their position within the religious community.  The Herodians were bent on keeping their political power granted them by the Romans.  Both groups saw Jesus as a threat to their positions of power and saw a need to remove the threat.

 

            However, the Pharisees and the Herodians had a problem.  Jesus had gained popular support from the people.  Jesus message of God’s Kingdom, and his miracles had established him, at the least, as a messenger from God in the hearts and minds of the people.  At the most, this Jesus was the Messiah of God. 

 

            In order to depose this Jesus, the Pharisees and Herodians could not use direct action.  Such direction action would result in the loss of prestige and position.  The people would never sit still for such treatment of this great teacher and miracle worker.  They would have to use deceit and cunning to destroy Jesus.  Such destruction is implied in the word “trap.”  The meaning of “trap” in the Greek language is the trigger for the machine that causes death.  It is the same word from which we derive the word “scandal.”  Such things destroy the good name and reputation of those upon whom the trap is sprung.  If the person is not physically affected they are certainly diminished in the eyes of others.

 

“What do you think?” they ask Jesus.  “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?”

 

            To answer yes to this question would mean acknowledging that Caesar, who claimed divinity, was to be honored.  The people would never accept such thinking.  To answer no to this question would mean that one is not subject to the governing authorities.  The Roman governor would never accept such thinking.  Either answer would mean trouble for Jesus.  Say yes, and you lose the people by promoting idolatry.  Say no and you lose your life for inciting rebellion against Rome.  It is lose-lose for Jesus and win-win for the Pharisees and Herodians.  What do you think?

 

            Jesus pronounces divine judgment upon such thinking and deception.  All who seek to manipulate others in such a deceptive manner are included when Jesus denounces the Pharisees and the Herodians.  Matthew writes:

 

“But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?”

 

            These men are being called task not only for their hypocrisy, but also for their failure to live by the truth for which they praise Jesus.  They call Jesus a man of integrity.  They say that Jesus teaches the way of God according to the truth.  They say Jesus is not swayed by men.  Literally they condemn themselves by their own words, and Jesus pronounces judgment upon them.  These men do not live by faith in God, but by trusting in things that will never last.  They seek the fleeting honor of men rather than the eternal glory of God.

 

            Yet, Jesus in his pronouncing judgment does not end there.  Jesus also provides opportunity for repentance.  He tells the men to produce the coin used for paying taxes.  Jesus asks them to tell him whose image and inscription are upon the coin.  Matthew writes of their response:

 

“Caesar’s,” they replied.  The [Jesus] said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

 

At this point the trap has been returned upon their own heads.  What was designed to betray Jesus became the death trap of the Pharisees and the Herodians.  In a few short words Jesus teaches and eternal truth that there is no conflict in honoring both God and worldly government.  For as we read in Scripture all governments are given power and authority by God.  Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God says of the pagan ruler Cyrus:

 

“For the sake of Jacob my servant…I summon you by name and bestow on a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.”

 

            St. Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans:

 

            “Everyone must submit himself 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, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

 

            Therefore, in honoring those who are over us, whether in government, home, school, we honor the God who bestowed his authority on these leaders.  It matters little what type of government is over us.  We are compelled by God to give honor to, pray for, and support those in authority.  Bad government is a blessing from God as well as good government.  We are duty-bound to render to Caesar his due.

 

            In the same way we give to God that which is due Him.  This teaching has reference to the 1st Table of the Law of God.  We are to keep from practicing idolatry, and setting ourselves up as God.  We are to call upon the name of the Lord in all situations, and avoid practicing the deeds of sin which are shown in satanic arts, curse or swearing by God’s name.  We are to gather in the house of God on the appointed days to render worship and praise to the God who has redeemed us from hypocrisy and Satan’s power.  We are to pray for those who are over us in the Lord, and see that the needs of the congregation are met.

 

            It is interesting that this last notion is not believed.  When confirmation students are taught that giving offerings are acts of worship, they do not accept this as a means of honoring God.  This shows me that such things are not taught at home.  Perhaps the offerings are grudgingly put in the offering envelope each week.  Or maybe the envelope holds what is left over rather than being filled with the first fruits of God’s blessings.  What do you think?  Do you give back to God what is God’s?

 

            As Jesus did with the Pharisees and the Herodians, so he also does with us.  He gives us opportunity to repent of our hypocrisy and to turn once again to true worship and obedience of faith.  He teaches us that the death traps into which we fall are not designed by our own hand, but are tools of Satan.  Satan uses such tools to deceive God’s people and cause them to deny their Savior Jesus Christ.  It is still the same today.  Satan’s tools may be readily apparent, or subtly hidden.  Your soul’s destruction is Satan’s goal.

 

            The Lord of Life desires just the opposite.  Jesus teaches us through his word to recognize those death traps that are opposed to God’s will and designed for our soul’s destruction.  When we stand upon the Truth, and keep our feet firmly planted in the Way of Eternal life, then, such death traps fail ensnare the people of God.  Rather they fall upon those who set them.  The life stealing jaws of death close firmly locking in their grasp the evil doer.  The people of God remain free from death’s grasp.  Their Lord defends them from such things.

 

            The Pharisees and Herodians left Jesus alone.  They were amazed that their plans had returned upon their own heads.  This Jesus was truly as they had confessed earlier a man of integrity who teaches the way of God in accordance with the truth.  Against such teaching there is no enemy that can prevail.  Death’s sting is removed.  Satan’s teeth are broken. 

 

            For, our Lord Jesus Christ suffered the death trap of the cross that we would never be caught on the horns of Satan’s dilemma, the temptation to doubt God’s mercy and grace.  In Jesus’ death the deceptive power of Satan was broken.  The horns of Satan’s dilemma were broken off and drained of their destroying power.

 

            Jesus granted to us this same victory.  For, we were baptized into his atoning death and victorious resurrection.  We were brought from death to life through the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that we may walk in God’s truth.  Walking in God’s truth, we are defended by our Lord to give honor to Him in all that we think, say or do.  We no longer live in hypocrisy of lip-service, but live in the sincerity of true faith rendering to our Savior the honor due his name.

 

            This same Lord, Jesus Christ, continue to turn us from hypocrisy, defend us from the deception of Satan, make us rich in the works which God blesses, and gather us to Himself on the day of His Coming.  Amen.