Matthew 22: The King and His Law (2)
Pray Psalm 2.7, 8.
“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.’”
Sing Psalm 2.7-9.
Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
I will declare the LORD’s decree. He said, “My Son I have begotten Thee.
Ask Me, and I will give every land for You to rule as I have planned.”
Read Matthew 22.1-22; meditate on verses 15-22.
What do we owe to those who rule over us?
Prepare.
1. What two aspects of the Roman coin did Jesus mention?
2. What should we render to God?
Meditate.
We can see the religious leaders trying to build a case against Jesus that will bring Him before the secular authorities and relieve them of having to do the dirty work of getting rid of Him. If they can get Him to say a word against Caesar, the trap will have sprung.
But Jesus is far too wise to walk into that snare. Instead, in classic Jesus form, He used an ordinary, everyday item to unpack profound theological truth. Jesus mentioned both the image of Caesar and the inscription on the coin, indicating the emperor’s name and the value of the coin. Both of these relate to us, as those who are made in the image and likeness of God and have the Law of God inscribed on our heart (Ezek. 36.26, 27).
We owe government, as God’s servant for good (Rom. 13.1-4), that reasonable obedience which promotes the common weal, but only insofar as government does not require us to act contrary to God and His Word.
We owe God to live according to His image and likeness (2 Cor. 3.12-18). Rendering to God, therefore, requires that we see Jesus, always having before us a vision of Him into Whose image and likeness we are being transformed.
The first task of a king of Israel, when he ascended the throne, was to write a copy of God’s Law in his own hand, and then to read from it day and night (Deut. 17.18-20). We have no evidence that any of Israel’s kings did this. But Jesus is doing it. He has sent His Spirit to inscribe the Law on our hearts (Ezek. 36.26, 27), and thus to renew us in the image of God, and shape us into the likeness of Christ. What we owe God is to submit to that Law—and all His Word—and seek the filling of the Spirit for serving the Lord day by day.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
After Jesus dropped the truth bomb, on the Pharisees, by daring to say, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22.14), they “went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk” (Matt. 22.15).
You would think, by now, they would’ve wised up. How many times have they already tried this?
But this time, after huddling, they came up with a new plan. Why don’t we send some of our disciples, along with a group of Herodians? Now there’s an idea whose time has come, they thought. Our acolytes, along with the political party people of Hellenists will do the trick! Well, let’s see how that turned out.
After posing their self-perceived grand gotcha question, and hearing Jesus’ wise answer “they marveled, and left Him and went their way” (Matt. 22.22). Hmmm. Possibly not the desired outcome?
Jesus, for His part, was firm, yet loving, and law abiding.
Moses had instructed the judges, serving with him, to rule the Israelites thusly:
“You shall not show partiality in judgment;
you shall hear the small as well as the great;
you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence,
for the judgment is God’s” (Deut. 1.17).
The situation demanded a starting point, and that was this:
“Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?” (Matt. 22.18)
Oftentimes, we as Christians think that the only way to handle the enemies of God is to roll over and play dead. We think we need to be mealy mouthed doormats—lest we bring offense. But that is not the way Jesus did it. Nor must we. We need to find some righteous courage and speak the truth like He did. In love, of course.
Jesus’ opening statement got their attention, for sure. Then, in His wisdom, He went on to explain about the coin’s inscription. But then He intimated that His followers had another One to render their very lives to.
As Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12.1).
We, and everything pertaining to us, is our reasonable rendering to God.
For Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior, said that He has inscribed us “on the palms of My hands…” (Is. 49.16).
Who would, or why would, anyone choose a dead Caesar inscribed on a coin instead?
In Acts 6.1 we read again of some Hellenists: “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.” Okay. Yes. They still appear a little cranky; but these folks were now a part of the growing church; and their grumbling was the starting point for the creation of the role of deacon.
So, could it be, that Jesus’ firm, but loving, discourse with those Herodians
eventually brought them to faith in Him?
“We owe God to live according to His image and likeness.
Rendering to God, therefore, requires that we see Jesus,
always having before us a vision of Him
into Whose image and likeness
we are being transformed.”
Reflect.
1. In this vignette, Jesus brought together both revelation by Word and revelation in creation. Explain.
2. Can things like coins and flowers and sparrows and other created things aid us in bearing witness? How?
3. When “Caesar” ceases to be acting like a servant of God for good (Rom. 13.4), what should our response be?
The image of God is not depicted on gold but is imaged in humanity. The coin of Caesar is gold; that of God, humanity. Caesar is seen in his currency; God, however, is known through human beings. And so, give your wealth to Caesar but reserve for God the sole innocence of your conscience, where God is beheld. Anonymous, Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 42
Pray Psalm 2.1-6, 10-12.
Commit your life to King Jesus and His Word, and offer each activity of your day to Him for His glory.
Sing Psalm 2.1-6, 10-12.
Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
Why do the nations vainly rage, conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their couns’lors stand against the LORD and His Right Hand:
“Now let us cast His yoke below, His Kingdom authority overthrow!
Throw off His Law, reject His Word; no more be governed by this LORD!”
The LORD in heaven laughs in wrath at all who embark on this cursèd path.
His angry Word to them is plain: “Yet shall My King in Zion reign!”
Be wise, O kings, O judges, hear, and tremble with joy, serve the LORD with fear.
Embrace the Son, keep His wrath at bay, or you shall perish in the way.
His wrath is kindled like a flame at all who refuse to bow to His Name.
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who trust in Him!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is focusing on how we can improve our powers of reasoning. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
