Matthew 22:15-22 15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Wayne Phillips
Open Table Church
Observation: Father God, thank You for all you have given me. Everything I am and have, belongs to You. You are the source of it all. Thank You also for calling me to invest myself and all that I have in Your never-ending kingdom.
Action: Lord Jesus, I want to put these skills, abilities, and resources that You have given me to work for You. Help me to do that daily and remain mindful of Your return. I look forward to hearing you say on that day, “Well done. You have been faithful. You have served Me well. Here is your reward. Step now into the fullness of My joy.”
OBSERVATION: Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. In this passage, The Word does exactly that. Though their thoughts and intentions were malicious, there was no condemnation from Jesus. He simply gave them a new perspective.
ACTION: I will bring my heart to The Word asking that the thoughts and intentions be revealed and that He will give me His perspective on the issues I bring. Thank you Lord, that I have no need to fear condemnation for with you there is none.
Observation: Jesus was so rooted in the Father and kingdom of heaven that he was frank with money. There was no mystery; no competition.
Action: Father I want to be just as frank about my money and where it goes. I want to give back to kingdom initiatives and give to back to the irs with the same sense of trust, rootedness and knowledge that all have is not mine, but a gift from you.
What I observe is how they sought after Jesus with the intent to “trap him in his words”. They were not able to trap Jesus because of his deep relationship with his Father. God.
My action is to be slow to speak so that I can use the time of pause to reflect on God the Father and how His kingdom can break through through this conversation.
Father I an so grateful that you have stamped me with your image.I belong to you! wahoo!
Action: Today I will vigilant to remember that everyone I meet is made in your image and treat them with respect.
Observation: Be mindful of the battle I am supposed to be fighting. What the world says I should strive for is not what God wants me to strive for. My purpose flows from my identity which I get from my Father, and He gives me everything necessary to do what He wants me to do.
Action: Resist the taunts the enemy throws at me daily–‘You should be doing this (everybody else is); you will be somebody if you achieve that.’ He muddies the water, trying to get me to fight some other battle. Stay focused, using Jesus’ example as my guide.
Observation: It’s easy to complain about taxes, and yet Scripture says that no authority exists apart from that which is ordained by God. We are to submit to the authorities as we do to God Himself, and even speak well of them, putting the best construction on what those who are in authority have to say.
Action: When I feel like complaining about politicians or taxes or those who are in positions of authority in the government, I will pause to put the best construction on their words and actions, pay my taxes gladly, with gratitude for what they provide, and I will lift up those in authority in prayer because they bear a heavy burden of responsibility and are fraught with temptations all around them.
Observation: Jesus you are the smartest person that ever existed. You know how to respond in every situation with invitation and challenge. You are not swayed or influenced by others so that you can help them live in your Fathers way of life.
Action: this week as I encounter people I will pause to say Holy Spirit what are you doing, rather than my reaction to them.
As a follow up to my previous post, I would add that Jesus lived in a time/place when/where his homeland was occupied by a foreign power. He did nothing to overthrow it because that was not his battle. He had his mission that flowed from his identity and he lived into that.
I will resist the temptation to fight political battles that drain my energy from my real purpose of following and leading others to follow Jesus.
I wonder if I ever do that—recognize Jesus for His character and competence and still try to pull a fast one on Him because I think I know so much more about what I need. The reality of His grace constrains me to evaluate the possibility.
Jesus came at just the right time in history. The “Pax Romana”; the Greek language, etc.
We live in a time and place where we are free to advance God’s kingdom at will. How are we doing?
Jesus, how am I doing?
Observation: I am in the image of God. I have His imprint on me. I am His.
Action: I will give myself to God. I will not hold tightly and withhold what He has given me and wants me to give back — through sharing with His children … all humanity.
” trap Him in His words ” With the world full of sin many are looking to find the wrongs of believers. Individuals in immediate Life can be after the same things….I am hearing to be I am called to be at all times, to be aware of those around me who may want to tear down the identity I have found by twisting my words to plant seeds of self doubt.
I have finally built a foundation and I will walk in honesty today with friends, family etc. and make sure that I think before I speak so limit opportunity for self doubt in the person I am chosen to be.
Father: Bind my tongue from speaking things that are not of you, In my relationships I will seek your direction to those you hand picked to be my mentors when seeking accountability for my own thinking. Let me only take in the words you would have me hear and not fall prey to the traps of the wicked. Amen