Two Kingdoms

Series on Luke

V The Imminence of the Kingdom

H Taxes

Text: 20:20-26

Introduction

It is a dangerous thing to mock God, but in our text that is what we see. Here is one of the most important and one of the most debated questions of our faith. It has been the source of confusion, division, and speculation for centuries. In a recent Christianity Today magazine, Tim Stafford wrote an article on extremism in which he told the story of a congregation which had for many years displayed an American flag in its sanctuary, but one day at a congregational meeting a member objected to the flag. He said that it was a symbol that God was an American. He saw it as an emblem of the motto, “America, love it or leave it.“ Many in the congregation sensed that the Bible taught a sober, and righteous patriotism, and were reluctant to remove it. So they tried to compromise. The first plan was to institute a Christian flag, but the member said that would suggest that Christianity and Americanism are equal loyalties. Then they decided to display the Christian flag above the American, but someone remembered that it was illegal to do that. Finally they decided to put the two flags on the same level but slip a sheet of paper under the Christian flag so it would be higher, but no one could see it. This consumed a lot of time and energy and in the end few were satisfied, and some people left the church. This is an issue causing much confusion and we need to listen to what Jesus says here. However the people who asked the question originally were insincere, and so consider first treachery.

I Treachery

Our text makes clear in verse 20 that the questioners were dupes, spies, probably young disciples of the scribes and Pharisees, Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. They pretended to be righteous, that is, really sincere in doing what God wanted, and they flattered our Lord. Everything they said about Him was true. You can never say anything too good about Jesus, but they were saying the best things from the worst motive. They wanted to catch him. This is a classic example of entrapment. Later at his trial before Pilate according to Luke 23:1 and 2 the same people lied about this failure to entrap him and said that he was perverting the people and forbidding them to give tribute to Caesar, Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.” They didn’t want the truth, but Jesus gave it to them anyway.

II Truth

The truth is, according to Jesus in verses 21-25, that we live in two kingdoms, So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Although these kingdoms conflict, we have an obligation to God and also an obligation to the state. They are not mutually exclusive. We live in the world to come but we also live in this present evil age. Providentially we lived in an area settled by Anabaptists which includes the Mennonite faith. Historically the Anabaptists said there is one kingdom and one ethic. That’s why they are pacifists and we are not. According to proper Mennonite theology the sermon on the mount, turning the other cheek, and doing good to those who abuse you are ethical principles which bind the president, the congress, the military and the police. The Reformed community on the other hand has insisted that we live in two kingdoms and in this present evil world it is the duty of the government not to turn the other cheek but to protect its citizens. Paul enunciates this principle in Romans 13:1-7, 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. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. So let us consider this tribute of which Paul and Jesus speak.

III Tribute

As Jesus says and Paul echos, pay your taxes. We don’t pay our taxes because they’re always fair, or because we agree with all the ways the money is spent. We pay our taxes because there is a legitimate government instituted by God. The whole incident with the Roman silver coin bearing Caesar’s image is directed at establishing the legitimacy of Caesar’s reign. It was a commonly accepted principle in those days that a ruler’s power extended as far as his coins were in use. That meant that if they had accepted the use of the coinage which they had handed him, then they accepted the ruler as legitimate. Jesus is asking them if Caesar is the legitimate ruler or not. There were zealots in Jesus’ day that favored revolt and the overthrow of the Roman rule. Jesus did not side with them, although the coin bore the superscription ,”Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus,” and although the Emporer was capable of incredible corruption. Nevertheless, Jesus came down on the side of paying taxes. The Bill of Rights would not have been a big thing with Caesar but Jesus says people still owed reverence submission and obedience to this earthly ruler. I cannot imagine the chaos that would commence if our sitting president claimed to be God. I want us to see clearly that it is not at this point Jesus draws the line. Instead he says we should render unto God the things that are God’s. This tells us that there is a point at which we are not to pay tribute and not to submit. It is when the ruler not only claims divinity but requires us to do something God has forbidden or forbids us to do something God has commanded. We are never to give to any earthly ruler that which belongs to God alone.

IV Tithing

Render unto God the things that are God’s. I do not choose tithing, or giving a tenth of the increase, here because it is the only way of rendering unto God the things that are God’s, but because, in the Bible, It is a symbol of our belonging to Him. There may be a hidden agenda in Jesus’ words. If the coin bears the image of Caesar, what image do we bear? All that we are and have comes from God. Giving him a tenth of all we possess is a way of acknowledging his ownership. In America we are governed by an implicit rule, please don’t mess with the IRS, but i wonder how many people defraud God which is much more dangerous. This is what Jesus is talking about when He says render unto God the things that are God’s. To be very practical, suppose the government says it will no longer allow you to make tax free donations to your church. You should pay the tax, but if the government says you cannot make any donations to the work of the Lord you should disobey.

Conclusion

In conclusion let me remind you of two things. First, although the kings of the earth have set themselves against the lord and his anointed, according to Psalm 2, and although there are two kingdoms which conflict, there is a proper and legitimate obedience to be given to our earthly rulers. When we do this we should see that we are being obedient to God who has ordained earthly governments. Secondly, modern trends indicate that the fiercest and most dangerous attacks against the Church of Christ will be delivered on the political front. This is what the Bible records and prophesies. The state has always and always will view itself as the Messiah, the Savior. Christians must be prepared to choose between loyalty to Christ and loyalty to secular authorities who reject God. Nevertheless this must not blind us to Jesus’ command to pay to Caesar what is owed to Caesar and to pay unto God the things that are owed to God. We cannot fault what Jesus says anymore than His mean-spirited critics could in verse 26, They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.