The
Pharisees were subtle - just like the ‘ancient serpent who is the
devil’ (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 20:2). They tried ‘to entangle Jesus in
His talk’ (Matthew 22:15). They wanted to trap Him and bring a charge
against Him. They asked Jesus about payment of taxes to Caesar (Matthew
22:17). Jesus moved beyond this question to our greatest responsibility:
‘Render ... to God the things that are God’s’ (Matthew 22:21). If we
must speak words of political significance - ‘Render.. to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s’ (Matthew 22:21) - , let them arise out of
this: Giving God His rightful place in His Church, the nation and the
wider world. Jesus’ words to the Sadducees, in Matthew 22:29, were not
simply a protest against the religion of the Sadducees. They were a
protest for the Scriptures and the power of God. A positive faith is much more helpful than a purely negative reaction!
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