Death and Taxes…
What better way to follow up our national tax day than with this famous passage in Matthew. I hope it’s encouraging for those of who wrote checks to the IRS (my hand is up)!
Matthew 22:15-22 NLT
Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Strange Bedfellows
I hope you didn’t read this short and familiar passage too quickly. While Jesus directly addresses the issue of paying taxes (yes, do it), He more subtly deals with culture – how we approach it. Notice in the first couple lines the two different groups of people are approaching Jesus.
First, you have the disciples of the Pharisees. You are probably familiar with this group. They are the ones who took the Law from Moses, made from it entire system of rules, and held the Jews to this set of regulations. Just as important, the Pharisees longed to see one from the line of their ancestor King David come into power in Jerusalem.
The second group is a little more obscure in Scripture. They are the “supporters of Herod” or the Herodians. These people wanted to see Herod reign in Judea. This group really didn’t care at all about the religious things the Pharisees did. The Herodians were mainly a political group.
A majority of the time, these 2 groups were at odds, but as the saying goes,
“Politics makes strange bedfellows.”
Neither the Herodians, nor the Pharisees wanted Jesus in power (though He had no ambition for this). The trick in this case was to get Jesus to support either the Pharisees (don’t pay taxes) or the Herodians (pay taxes). Either way one of these groups will have grounds to discredit Jesus leading to His death.
While Jesus’ answer directly deals with their trick, He goes deeper. Jesus challenges us to be in a society or culture abiding by it’s rules and regulations, but still living entirely for God.
It’s a tough balance! It’s hard to live in our culture which doesn’t honor God and not fall into the same pattern of thinking (the Herodians). It’s equally hard not to become fearful of the culture and to hide (the Pharisees).
Ender’s Game
Sunday night was family movie night at the Bondurant home. After a busy weekend, we took a break and watched the movie Ender’s Game.
Ender’s Game is set in the future after a major war with an alien race. Though we’ve chased them from earth, we need to prepare for their return. It’s decided the solution is training our best and brightest children – looking for a “chosen one” to lead these troops.
Ender Wiggins is the chosen one.
Years into his training, Ender has a traumatic experience leading him to quit and return to earth. The only person Ender agrees to talk with is his sister, Valentine. Sitting on a tranquil and secluded lake they have a long conversation about call, gifting, fear and hiding.
Ender acknowledges his call and gifts. He admits his real problem is fear. Valentine begs him not to let fear drive him to hiding. She asks him to go and fulfill the call on his life.
Valentine tells Ender if he hides forever all will be lost.
Will all be lost?
Jesus says in Matthew 22 to give to God what belongs to God. Your call and gift belongs to God. Jesus is asking you to enter into the world around you to use your call and gifts to impact culture.
As a parent of a 14 year old daughter, I know, it can be scary.
Send her where? Ask her to do what?
Please don’t allow fear of culture to drive you or your family into hiding. Please don’t hide your gift and call from the ones who truly need it. God is calling us to use His gifts to glorify Him even in the dark places…no, especially in the dark places.
If you hide your gifts…your call…the culture around you will be lost.
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