Gospel

Issues of Man Or God's Commands

by Roland Crim
05/25/18
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Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 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. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial taxa to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “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.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Matthew 22:15-22 NIV

I smile each time I read these failed attempts of the Jewish leaders to trap Jesus in His words. The concerns which they question Jesus about are issues of man, and not God’s commands and His will. This certainly reveals the true intentions of these Jewish leaders.

Jesus lets the leaders know that He is aware of their intentions, labeling them as hypocrites. We have the same situation today. There are those who are truly hypocrites concerning the desires of God versus those of man. We need to pray for these people, but, we need to be careful that we do not allow them to influence our way of thinking.

Give to this world that which belongs to it, but, be sure to give to God that which belongs to Him. This includes giving Him your will, to be replaced by His will.