When Worlds Collide...

Some commentators believe that we have now moved to Wednesday of Passion Week.  However, we are still in Jerusalem, and Jesus is still dialoging with His enemies.

 

His enemies feel as if they have Him cornered.  We will see this morning that the question regarding one’s allegiance to government and one’s allegiance to God is an ancient dilemma.

 

I want to share a message with you entitled, “When Worlds Collide…”  Please take your Bibles and turn to Mark 12:13-17.

 

 

1. A Demonstration of Treachery, Mark 12:13-15a

13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” 

 

In this first scene, let’s talk about the players if you will.  The Pharisees represented narrow, conservative Judaism.  They were right-wingers.  They were resentful to Rome and for their domination over the nation of Israel.

 

On the other hand, the Herodians represented liberalism.  They were left-wingers.  They were loyal to Herod and Rome. 

 

These two groups were normally enemies and opponents of one another.  However, now they were on the same team trying to destroy Jesus.  Evidently, the old adage is true: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. 

 

Let’s not only think about the players, let’s also consider their plot.  They were trying to trap Jesus like an animal or catch Him like a fish on a hook.  Their treachery was obvious. 

 

They wanted to know if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar.  This was a head-tax on any one and every one living under the Roman Empire.  If Jesus said yes, the crowd would be in an uproar.  There would be chaos.  A yes answer would affirm Roman domination of the Jews.

 

However, if Jesus said no, He and His followers would be accused of being insurrectionists.  He would then be quickly arrested by the Romans for defying their authority.

 

 

1. An Illustration of Hypocrisy, Mark 12:15b-16

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.  And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

 

Jesus smelled a rat.  Verse 15 says He knew their hypocrisy.  He knew about their words and their works. 

 

In verse 14, they called Him Teacher, but they didn’t follow His teaching.  They were flattering Him. 

 

Also, in verse 15, He asked to see a denarius which was a single coin that represented a day’s wages.  Keep in mind this was a Roman Coin.

 

Evidently they had one on them revealing their hypocritical works.  They were asking Jesus if they should pay even though they were ready to pay. 

 

After receiving one, Jesus asked whose image was on the coin.  It was that of Tiberius Caesar.  One side was inscribed with “Son of the Divine Augustus.”  The other side said “Chief Priest.”

 

Their hypocrisy abounded. 

 

 

• The Application of Authority, Mark 12:17

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  And they marveled at Him.

 

Jesus told them to give to Caesar what was due Caesar.  That would include the head-tax that was previously mentioned.

 

However, don’t miss this.  He also said to give to God that which was due God.

 

 

Conclusions

So let me give you one conclusion with two parts.

 

First, give and pray to and for our government.  Give what is due them.  That means submission.  We should submit from traffic laws to paying taxes to following guidelines.

 

Please hear me this morning.  We are meeting like we are today because we should…not because we have to.

 

Of course, the exception would be anytime our government requires us to violate Scripture or conscience that was determined by Scripture.

 

Romans 13:1-2, 5-7, 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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

 

5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

 

Christians are also to pray for their government.

 

1 Timothy 2:1-4, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Second, give and pray to our God in heaven.  As the coin had Caesar’s image, and Jesus told the Pharisees and Herodians to pay that which was due Caesar, our soul has God’s image on it.  We are made in the image of God.  See Genesis 1:27.

 

Genesis 1:27, 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

Therefore, we are to give our lives to God.  It is due Him.  It is owed Him. 

 

Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 

 

Invitation

• Lost-to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
• Saved-be subject to government and God.