Message

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Christian’s basic duty and attitude

(Christian ethics)

Luke 20:20-26, 21:1-4

Key Verse 20:25b “…He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

  Last week through the parable of the Tenants we learned about the relationship between God and us. God is the landlord and we are his tenants. God owns everything we have because all things including our life came from God. We are mangers of our life for God and stewards of everything endowed to us. In this parable, we learn that God does not need our money, but our hearts, thankful minds and our acknowledgment of God as God. But men fail because of their sinfulness. Their greed, rebellion, and delusion defile God’s long suffering patience. However, God does not give up on them. He sent his Son whom he loved to restore our relationship. And can it be that God sent his begotten Son to sinners? Out of ignorance and greed, the tenants killed the son. This parable previews the coming death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. It also reminds us of God’s lavishing love for sinners as Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Amen.

  Today’s passage is the extension of the parable of the Tenants in terms of our basic duty and attitude as tenants of God’s world. It teaches us again how to keep our right relationship with God as God’s people at the same time as citizens of our country. May God teach us how to love God and to love others while studying this passage. Amen.

First, Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. (20-26) Look at verse 20. “Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.” Here “they” indicates the teachers of the law and the chief priests.(19) They should have accepted Jesus’ teaching and repented, rather than sending spies to catch Jesus. When they did not repent of their sins, their situation became even worse than before. They became tools of Satan. What was the spies’ question to Jesus? Look at verses 21,22. “So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Their question was trap for Jesus. If Jesus allowed paying taxes to Caesar, many followers who hated paying taxes to Caesar would leave him. If he forbade paying taxes to Caesar, he would be arrested as an insurrectionist by the Roman soldiers. Jesus knew their craftiness, but he was not deceived. How did Jesus respond to their question?  Look at verses 23,24. “He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” A denarius was a silver coin minted in Rome and worth about a day’s wages. At that time, Tiberius Caesar was the Roman Emperor. This coin must have had his portrait and the inscription, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus.” So they replied. “Caesar’s.”

  How did Jesus answer their question? Let’s read verse 25b. “…He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” What did Jesus mean when he said, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”? Jesus meant that they should fulfill their duty as God’s people as well as people under the Roman’s authority.  They should not ignore either one. At that time Rome ruled the world and Israel was one of its colonies. The Roman Empire levied heavy taxes, almost one third of one’s income, on its colonies on the pretext of keeping order and peace. The Jews who believed God was their only King hated paying tributes to Caesar. Nevertheless, Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Jesus taught them to fulfill their duty as people under the Roman authority.

Tax season has come. Some of us may expect a tax return, but no one likes paying taxes. However, we should pay taxes, as it is our duty as people living in this country. I complain about rising property taxes in University City; however, the city uses taxes to maintain roads and parks, to run schools and to protect communities. Requiring taxes is reasonable and paying taxes is our basic duty as residents and citizens. We should pay taxes and fulfill the duty of defense as American citizens. We should obey all laws, rules and regulations of the government. Above all, we should pray for those who serve us and protect us. 

In Romans 13:1-6 the Apostle Paul said everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. According to Paul, all the authorities that exist have been established by God. (Ro 13:1) We believe that our God is the Sovereign Ruler over the world. Our God is over all human authorities. When we believe that God rules the world and that he works for good for those who love him, we submit ourselves to the governing authority.  Paul also taught Timothy, a young pastor, to pray for those who were in authority. He said in 1 Tim 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.”  Intercessory prayer for those who are in authority is God’s will. This is why we have to pray for the president, law-makers and law-enforcers. This is why we pray for America to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

When Jesus said, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” we are taught about our dual citizenship. We Christians have a citizenship in God’s kingdom at the same time as one on this earth. We should not neglect the duty of either one, but should fulfill both. What do we owe God? What is God’s, which we should give? We owe everything to God because everything came from Him including our life, family, friends, church, house, car, job, and so on. In fact, we were born naked. We brought nothing to this world and we enjoy all things, most of which we didn’t even make. This is only by God’s grace. Even though we owe all things God, God does not demand all things from us. Our God, like the owner in the parable of the Tenants, requires some fruits from us, something to maintain our relationship with Him. These are our regular worship service, daily quiet time, morning devotion, Bible study, tithing, thanksgiving offerings, and other duties as people of God. God gave all things to us, even his One and Only Son Jesus to die for our sins. God lavished his love for undeserving sinners like us by sacrificing his only begotten Son Jesus to save us from our sins. Since God’s love is incredible and unfathomable, what can we save for ourselves? Why can we not give something which maintains our relationship with Him? We are selfish and ignorant. We don’t want to give fruits to God, just like the ungrateful and greedy tenants. Our life is not our own, but God’s. All things, including our lives, came from God. We should give to God what is God’s. We should show our proper respect and honor to God as his people by giving to God what is God’s. Think about what is God’s to you? Do you fulfill your duty as people of God and residents and citizens of this country? Are you a benefit-seeker or a truth-seeker? Repent, or God will take away all the blessings he has provided for you. Let us read verse 25 again.

 The spies were unable to trap Jesus in what Jesus had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. (26)

Second, give all your heart to God (21:1-4)  Jesus was at the temple. As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. Some scholars say that at that time the amount of offerings was announced in public. The rich must have felt great when their offerings were announced. Next, a poor widow followed and put in an offering. Jesus saw the poor widow put in two very small copper coins. At that time, two small copper coins was the minimum offering. (1,2) The two small copper coins were two lepta, worth only a small fraction of a day’s wage. It was just a few dollars. What did Jesus say about their offerings?  Look at verses 3,4. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus said that the widow put in more than all the others. According to worldly consensus, the rich put in more money than she did. However, Jesus valued her two copper coins more than all the others because she gave all she had to live on out of her poverty while the rich gave some out of their wealth.

 What does Jesus teach us here?  Jesus values our heart more than the monetary value or amount of our offerings. People look at outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. (1 Sa 16:7b)  People judge others according to the amount of their offerings, but God values the hearts of the givers. God looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. (Ge 4:4,5) Why? It was because Abel offered his heart first to God while Cain did not. God measured the giver’s heart before he looked at his offerings. Hebrews 11:4 says that by faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith Abel was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. Abel offered to God by faith with all his heart. He gave his heart first to God and it was credited as righteous.

God wants us to give our hearts to him. Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, said, ‘Wherever you go, go with your heart.”  But God said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut 6:5) God accepts offering which contains our heart.  I often have chances to see the envelopes of our offerings. Their envelopes are written with many thankful topics and prayer topics. Some are heart-moving and bring tears to my eyes. These offerings, I believe, are accepted by God because they gave their hearts to God. Sacrificial and thankful offerings are a pleasing aroma to God.

Whatever we do, if it is done for God’s name sake and for his glory, is an offering to Him. This may be our time of Bible teaching, testimony writing, morning devotion, reaching out on campus, baby sitting, cleaning the church, giving rides to others, waiting for slippery Bible students and so on. Nothing is in vain if we do it for God’s glory and for his name’s sake. All these offerings are accepted by God when we do them for his glory. One Bible teacher hurriedly quit his work and went to campus to keep his appointment with his Bible student. But his student did not show up. The teacher despaired. But I believe that his labor is never in vain because he did it for God and he gave his heart to Him.

Those who have much do not always succeed. I mean that even though we don’t have much time, money, versatile abilities or fantastic talents, we can achieve great things in the course of poverty and adversity. As Jesus blessed the widow who put in all she had out of her poverty, he will also bless us when we give our hearts and do our best in our given situations. David wrote many psalms while he was being chased by his enemies. The Apostle Paul wrote thirteen books, half of New Testament, while he was in prison. They gave their hearts to God in their adverse situations and God blessed them.

We are not full time ministers. All of us work full time or part time in this world and serve the Lord out of poverty and adversity. God is pleased with us when we do not give up what we are doing. God blesses us when we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. Above all, God will be with us until we finish our race on this earth and see our Lord Jesus face to face in his kingdom. Amen. May God make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Amen.

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