“The Things of God”
Original sermon given October 22, 2023, written and delivered by Pastor Jeffrey Leininger at First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Watch the sermon live.
“The Things of God”
Matthew 22.15-21
Matthew 22.15-21
In the name of the Living God and his risen Christ. Amen.
So what are the things of God? That’s the real question behind this text, and the real question for our lives, this morning. What are the things of God?
The Pharisees’ disciples and the Herodians have come to entrap Jesus. And a perfect trap it is. The Pharisees opposed Roman rule over Israel; the Herodians gave tacit acceptance it. These are political enemies, but here unite in deceitful opposition to Jesus with a simple question: “Is it lawful (according to Moses) to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” You see, if Jesus answers “yes,” then it would appear he supports the Roman occupation of Israel. Those coins, which had Caesar’s image on them, went to pay for Roman soldiers garrisoned in Jerusalem and gladiatorial combat throughout the empire—and the games and circuses all filled with pagan practices. How could the messiah support all this? In essence, by saying, “Yes, it is lawful to pay taxes,” he would be denying that he is the Christ. On the other hand, if he says “no,” don’t pay your taxes, then they can report him to the governor for sedition or rebellion. He could be immediately arrested and imprisoned.
What a nice little pickle the Lord is in! Unwinnable, you might say. It forces him to take sides. In fact, this is the first of three tests Jesus endures at the hands of the religious leaders at the beginning of Holy Week. He responds as he did so many times before: in a divinely perfect way. The Lord 1) avoids the trap set for him, 2) exposes their malicious intentions, and 3) answers in such a way that focuses them—and us—on the real heart of the matter: what are the things of God? What are the things we are to be engaged in in this world? To paraphrase the sermon on the mount: where is my heart to be resting?
Beyond a proof-text telling us to obey the government (which we should) and more than a “Oh, look at the clever Jesus” story, this passage bids us (yes, this morning) to respond to Jesus in a way wholly unlike the Pharisees and Herodians. We are to recognize his authority as the Christ and come to him in repentance and faith. This firstly and most importantly is what it means to be about the things of God. The rest—our lives of discipleship, our obedience to governing authorities, our taxes, our prayers, our good works, our vocations—all these follow. But to recognize Christ, come to him in repentance, and believe the good news of his forgiveness and salvation, these are the things of God.
This is incredibly freeing because it enables us to do two things with conviction and resolve: obey the government, whenever called to do so, and disobey the government, whenever called to do so! And Christians are called to do both in different times and circumstances, and different Christians will discern differently what exactly this might mean, according to their consciences. But recognizing Jesus as the Christ and coming to him in repentance and faith does mean both: to obey the government and disobey it, if necessary. The gospel frees us to do either one, when necessary. The gospel calls us to suffer by doing either one, if necessary.
We are called to obey the ruling authorities. Christians see those set in authority over us as placed here by God. Government is God’s hand working in this world to curb evil, bring order, and work for the common good. (I know this is hard to believe sometimes!) This means that Christians are not allowed to pick and choose which rules to follow like we’re on a buffet line, or which rulers to whom we show respect, or which community to become engaged in for the good of others. We are commanded by God to obedient, respectful, and engaged in civic society because it is given to us by God.
But, when the civil realm opposes God Himself—that is, when it asks something of us which is clearly opposed to the will and work of God—we are called to disobey. Not because we don’t happen to like a particular law, but because we see that it is no longer the hand of God at work. This “sanctified civil disobedience” may mean suffering—fines, imprisonment, and in extreme cases even death—but it meant this for Jesus too. But if I am in Christ through baptism and Christ in me, then I go where he goes. Christianity and in particular the Lutheran Church has a long history of obeying the government out of respect for God and love for our neighbor; and also at times, if necessary, to disobey the government out of respect for God and love for our neighbor.
But Jesus here in Matthew calls us to higher things, to see ourselves ultimately as citizens of a different nation, a family which is beyond space and time, tribe and boundary, blood and soil, laws and taxes. We are part of the Kingdom of the crucified one, begun here in time but ultimately fulfilled in eternity. Let Ceasar have his coins and whatever else he wants, but let God have our hearts full of faith and love for him, and for all.
What are the things of God? Unlike the Pharisees and the Herodians in Matthew 22, above anything else we are to first and foremost recognize the person and work of Jesus Christ—the power of his cross and resurrection in our lives and in this place—to come to him by the power of the Holy Spirit in repentance and faith and to discern God’s will for us in the specific places, spaces, and relationships he has called us to be. Now when you do this, by God’s Spirit look out! You will be led to obey in ways you never thought possible and disobey regardless of the consequences.
Come soon Lord Jesus. Amen.