Whose Inscription?

19. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Every now and then, I have a problem getting onto my site and posting and yesterday was one of those days, so No, I’m okay.  All is well…..  I know that that some of you get concerned when you don’t see my daily post.

Our text for today is as follows:

Matthew 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 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. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes 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 portrait is this? And whose inscription?” 21 ”Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give 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.

Okay, let’s reflect.  We’re still on the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.  He has recently told three parables to the religious leaders about how the kingdom was going to be taken from them and given to another and how for their unfruitfulness they will be sentenced to a place where there will be “weeping and gnashing” of teeth.  The religious leaders were very upset and though Jesus taught in parables, they knew he was speaking about them. 

That gives us our context.  In our text today, the Pharisees try to figure out   a plan where they can trap him in his words.  So they try to get Jesus to go against the laws of Caesar so he can be arrested.    There hope was that since Jesus “claimed” to be sent from God then they thought that he would never adhere to honoring a “worldly” king and ruler so they tried to get him to speak against the current world system.

They start off with giving him compliments about how he is a man of God and he teaches the truth and he would not be swayed by men no matter who they are.   This made me laugh when I read it.   Ohhhh….. such a simply plan, I mean he is God and he does know their heart but to play devil’s advocate, they didn’t believe that he was sent from God.  They really thought Jesus was a false prophet.   

So the loaded question, intended to trap him was:  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.   Jesus immediately called them hypocrites and even asked them why they were trying to trap him.    He said; “show me the coin.”   Brillant……….  Jesus then asked whose inscription is on it and they replied that it was Caesar and Jesus brilliantly said then given unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s.  The bible said that they walked away amazed at his genius of an answer.  

Okay, tomorrow we will continue our journey on the last week of Jesus. 

For all my friends in

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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