WEBVTT

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 Heavenly Father,

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 we have gathered once again around your word

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 to hear you speak to us as our Lord and as our King, as our God.

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 Knowing that that's what this is about,

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 knowing that we are reading and preaching your word,

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 listening to your word,

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 where I stand here with fear and trembling,

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 as I wrestle with the text and think about what to say,

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 or I have fear and trembling

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 because I don't want to say anything that is not of you.

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 And I ask for your help now.

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 Help me to guide me by your Spirit,

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 even as preached this morning,

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 so that there are things that I leave out from my manuscript

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 and things that I say that I haven't yet put down on paper

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 that you want me to say.

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 And may everything proceed from your scripture.

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 Teach us how you want us to live,

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 to navigate the complexities of this world

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 as those who pledge allegiance,

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 their ultimate allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Luke 20, verses 19 to 26.

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 The scribes and the chief priests

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 sought to lay hands on him at that very hour,

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 for they perceived that he had told this parable against them,

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 but they feared the people.

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 So they watched him and sent spies

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 who pretended to be sincere,

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 that they might catch him in something he said,

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 so as to deliver him up to the authority

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 and jurisdiction of the governor.

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 So they asked him,

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 Teacher,

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 we know that you speak and teach rightly

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 and show no partiality,

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 but truly teach the way of God.

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 Is it lawful for us

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 to give tribute to Caesar or not?

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 But he perceived their craftiness

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 and said to them,

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 Show me a denarius.

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 Whose likeness and inscription does it have?

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 They said,

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 Caesar's.

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 He said to them,

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 Then render to Caesar

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 the things that are Caesar's

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 and to God the things that are God's.

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 And they were not able,

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 in the presence of the people,

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 to catch him in what he said.

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 But marveling at his answer,

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 they became silent.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 From crusades to jihads,

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 from religious reformations

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 to political revolutions,

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 from emperors and caliphs

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 forcing conversions,

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 to popes deposing and appointing kings,

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 the relationship between religion and politics

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 throughout history

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 has been messy, to say the least.

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 In the United States,

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 the separation of church and state

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 is codified in the First Amendment,

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 which stipulates that Congress

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 shall make no law respecting

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 an establishment of religion

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 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

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 Now, I'm not going to debate with you this morning

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 about what the framers of the Constitution meant,

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 but I am here to tell you

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 that the Bible provides,

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 this was not Thomas Jefferson's original idea,

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 but the Bible provides guidance

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 on how the relationship

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 between church and state ought to function.

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 And this idea that's contained in this passage

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 predates Jefferson by 1800 years.

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 And we do want to talk about what Jesus meant,

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 whether or not that's exactly

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 what the framers of the Constitution meant or not.

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 And we find that here in Luke 20, 19 to 26,

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 and I do believe it provides abiding principles

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 that can help us navigate

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 the complex and ever-changing political landscape

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 that we live in.

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 He teaches us here that

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 while we are to be subject

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 to various human authorities,

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 we owe our ultimate allegiance

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 to the Lord our God.

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 I think that's the main point

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 that Jesus teaches here.

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 And there are two main points to take away.

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 First is that God's authority

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 with relation to Caesar's authority,

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 and then secondly,

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 Christ's authority

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 with relation to Jewish leaders' authority.

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 So that's what we're going to talk about

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 in two parts.

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 So first, let's look at God's authority

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 with regard to Caesar's authority.

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 This passage begins with verse 19.

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 The scribes and the chief priests

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 sought to lay hands on Jesus

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 at that very hour,

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 for they perceived

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 that he had told this parable against them,

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 but they fear the people.

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 So the scribes and the chief priests

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 are responding violently

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 to the parable that Jesus just told them,

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 which Ray preached on last week.

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 This parable was about a vineyard

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 and its owner.

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 The owner of the vineyard is God,

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 and the vineyard represents

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 God's people, Israel.

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 And the owner of the vineyard

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 puts tenants in charge

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 of tending to the vineyard

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 before he goes away on a trip.

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 These tenants are the Jewish leaders.

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 And when time for the harvest comes,

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 he sends a servant of his

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 to receive some of the fruit

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 of the vineyard.

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 The servants that the owner sends

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 represent the prophets of God

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 that God sends to his people, Israel,

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 to call them to repentance

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 and faith and obedience.

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 And the fruit of the vineyard

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 represents those fruits

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 of good works and obedience.

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 Now, however, instead of giving

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 to the owner the fruit

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 that is due to him,

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 the tenants instead beat

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 and cast out the first servant

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 that the owner sends,

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 then the second servant,

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 and then the third servant.

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 And finally, when the owner

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 is at his wit's end

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 and decides, you know what,

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 I'm going to have to send

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 my own son.

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 They'll surely listen to my son.

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 And he sends him his own son,

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 and then they decide,

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 if we kill this son,

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 who is the heir,

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 we can claim the vineyard

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 as our own.

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 And so the owner's son,

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 of course, represents Jesus,

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 who will soon be killed

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 by the Jewish leaders

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 that are being addressed here.

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 And at the end of that parable,

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 Jesus prophesied

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 that the owner of the vineyard

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 will eventually return

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 to destroy those tenants

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 and give the vineyard to others.

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 And he warned them

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 that Jesus, he himself,

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 is the cornerstone

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 upon which God's house

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 is being built.

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 And if you reject him

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 instead of being built on him

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 as the cornerstone,

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 you're going to stumble over him,

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 fall, and be crushed by him.

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 Now, we don't know exactly

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 to what extent

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 these Jewish leaders,

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 elders, scribes,

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 and chief priests

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 understood the parable.

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 Since they still go ahead

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 and kill Jesus anyway,

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 maybe they didn't fully grasp

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 what Jesus was saying here.

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 But we know this much.

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 It says in verse 9,

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 They perceive that he had told

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 this parable against them.

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 That much they know.

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 Maybe they don't know

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 the details of the parable,

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 but they know,

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 I think he's saying

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 something bad about us.

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 I think he's speaking against us.

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 So they're indignant.

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 How does Jesus,

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 an unlearned man

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 from the insignificant village

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 of Nazareth,

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 the son of a carpenter,

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 dare to criticize us?

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 We're the esteemed leaders

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 of the Jewish community.

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 We're the trained scholars,

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 the professors,

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 moral exemplars,

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 the wise elders

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 among God's people.

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 And they're so angry

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 that they sought to lay hands

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 on Jesus at that very hour.

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 Right at that moment,

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 they wanted to seize him,

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 lay hands on him,

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 harm him.

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 But they fear the people.

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 Just recently,

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 they witnessed

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 throngs of Jesus' disciples,

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 acclaim Jesus as the king,

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 the messianic king

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 to come to Jerusalem.

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 It's saying in chapter 19,

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 verse 38,

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 blessed be the king

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 who comes in the name

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 of the Lord.

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 Peace in heaven

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 and glory in the highest.

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 So they fear the people,

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 what they might do to them

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 if they were to rashly harm

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 this popular figure.

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 So they choose to bide their time

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 and resort to a political ploy.

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 Instead of confronting Jesus directly,

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 they had already tried this

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 and failed multiple times.

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 They hide behind the scenes

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 and they pull strings.

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 They hire spies

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 to do their dirty work for them.

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 It says in verses 20 to verse 22,

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 So they watched him

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 and sent spies

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 who pretended to be sincere

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 that they might catch him

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 in something he said

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 so as to deliver him up

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 to the authority

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 and jurisdiction

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 of the governor.

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 So they asked him,

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 Teacher,

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 we know that you speak

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 and teach rightly

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 and show no partiality

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 but truly teach the way of God.

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 Is it lawful for us

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 to give tribute to Caesar

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 or not?

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 I think there would have been

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 great suspense and tension

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 in the air

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 after these insincere spies

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 asked their question

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 on behalf of scribes

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 and the chief elders.

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 There's an old saying

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 that we're all familiar with,

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 never discuss religion

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 or politics

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 in polite company.

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 Have you guys heard that?

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 Yeah.

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 Why?

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 I mean,

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 I don't agree with that

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 maxim entirely.

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 I mean,

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 it's unreasonable

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 to discuss the discussion

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 of religion and politics

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 altogether

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 but I do think

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 discussing religion

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 and politics

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 requires a special

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 humility and respect.

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 And that's because

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 religion and politics

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 more than any other subjects

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 that we can discuss

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 are polarizing.

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 They divide people.

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 People hold those views

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 very firmly

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 and ardently.

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 And so,

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 as they get impassioned

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 and as they get into arguments

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 it can lead to altercations

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 and strained relationships.

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 And so the caution

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 is well founded.

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 But these spies,

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 they went there.

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 Their question deals

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 with both religion

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 and politics.

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 And it's literally

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 the most controversial

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 hot button issue

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 among the Jews

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 at the time.

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 Because it concerns

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 the Roman Empire

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 and their occupation

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 and Jewish subjugation.

00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.620
 The spies ask,

00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:04.280
 is it lawful for us?

00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.879
 They're not asking

00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:07.500
 about their

00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:09.779
 Greek and Roman neighbors.

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.500
 They couldn't care less

00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:12.419
 that they pay taxes

00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:12.879
 to Caesar.

00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:14.100
 They're talking about them

00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:14.959
 as the Jewish people.

00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.399
 Is it lawful for us

00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:17.860
 to give tribute

00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.779
 to Caesar or not?

00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:20.679
 We are the chosen

00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:21.399
 people of God.

00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:22.720
 We are God's

00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:23.500
 special possession.

00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:24.759
 God is our king,

00:11:24.839 --> 00:11:25.519
 not Caesar.

00:11:26.319 --> 00:11:27.860
 Is it lawful for us

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:29.120
 to give tribute

00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.100
 to Caesar or not?

00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.960
 And the word tribute

00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.200
 is a word that

00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.220
 specifically refers

00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:36.200
 to the Roman poll tax.

00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:37.779
 This is not

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:39.000
 the wealth tax

00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:39.980
 collected by

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:41.259
 private tax collectors

00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:42.659
 like Levi and Zacchaeus

00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:43.399
 that we saw earlier

00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:44.460
 in the Gospel of Luke.

00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:45.639
 The wealth tax

00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.040
 is administered

00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:46.759
 to everybody,

00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:47.519
 including all the

00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.360
 citizens of Rome.

00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.379
 The poll tax,

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:50.800
 however,

00:11:51.540 --> 00:11:53.120
 was collected

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.980
 by the Roman

00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:54.980
 civil magistrates

00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:56.139
 and it went directly

00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.899
 to Caesar's coffers.

00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:59.439
 Not only that,

00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.360
 Roman citizens

00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.319
 were exempt

00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:02.459
 from this tax.

00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:04.639
 It was only imposed

00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.019
 on the subjected

00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:07.220
 peoples of the provinces.

00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:09.679
 So it's for this reason

00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:10.600
 that Tertullian,

00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.639
 the second century

00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:12.500
 Christian theologian,

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:13.879
 called the poll tax

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:15.659
 a badge of slavery.

00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:17.720
 In fact,

00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.039
 only about two decades

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:21.179
 before this incident,

00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:22.519
 a Jewish leader

00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.259
 named Judas of Galilee

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.019
 had rallied

00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:25.939
 the Jewish people

00:12:25.939 --> 00:12:27.000
 around their common

00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:27.799
 resentment toward

00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:28.559
 this poll tax

00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:29.940
 and led a revolt

00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:30.659
 against Rome

00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:31.580
 in 6 AD.

00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.039
 He had incited

00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:33.720
 his fellow Jews

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.480
 by saying this,

00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:34.799
 quote,

00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.240
 that they were cowards

00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.360
 if they would endure

00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.360
 to pay a tax

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:38.879
 to the Romans

00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.320
 and would,

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.100
 after God,

00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:41.460
 submit to mortal men

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.100
 as their lords.

00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:44.000
 So this is pretty fresh,

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.379
 just two decades before.

00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.519
 So this is kind of

00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:47.419
 the political context

00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:47.960
 behind this,

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:49.120
 very controversial issue.

00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:50.820
 And with that background

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.259
 in mind,

00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.360
 we can see the trap

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.039
 that these people

00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:54.159
 are setting for Jesus.

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.860
 Remember that

00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:56.840
 they're not sincere,

00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:58.039
 they're pretending

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.679
 to be sincere,

00:12:59.059 --> 00:13:00.419
 and according to verse 20,

00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.100
 their intention

00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:02.500
 is to catch Jesus

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.639
 in something he says

00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:05.460
 in order to trap him

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:06.100
 and to deliver him

00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.080
 to Pilate,

00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:07.919
 the governing authority

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:08.639
 over Judea,

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.460
 the Roman authority.

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.059
 Now,

00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.399
 if Jesus says

00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.240
 that it is lawful

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.279
 to pay the poll tax

00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:16.759
 to Caesar,

00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:19.039
 the nationalistic Jews

00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:20.240
 will be in an uproar.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.860
 They will deem

00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:23.220
 that Jesus is weak,

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.080
 they will forsake

00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.879
 their hope in him

00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.259
 as their messianic king,

00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.879
 the political savior

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.820
 that they expect him to be,

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.560
 they want him to be.

00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:35.120
 But if Jesus says

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.139
 that it is not lawful

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:39.320
 to pay the poll tax

00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:39.840
 to Caesar,

00:13:40.020 --> 00:13:41.420
 then they will snitch

00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:42.700
 and inform Caesar,

00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:45.120
 inform the Roman governor.

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.960
 They'll say to him,

00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:47.720
 do you remember

00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.500
 6 AD,

00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:50.340
 two decades ago,

00:13:50.400 --> 00:13:50.800
 do you remember

00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:51.800
 Judas of Galilee

00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:52.940
 that revolted against you

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.000
 about the poll tax?

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.220
 Well,

00:13:54.280 --> 00:13:54.900
 now there's a man

00:13:54.900 --> 00:13:56.780
 named Jesus of Galilee

00:13:56.780 --> 00:13:58.820
 and he is inciting

00:13:58.820 --> 00:13:59.720
 the Jewish people

00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.460
 against your rule,

00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:02.400
 telling them not

00:14:02.400 --> 00:14:03.320
 to pay the poll tax.

00:14:04.180 --> 00:14:04.760
 So this is really

00:14:04.760 --> 00:14:06.260
 a lose-lose situation

00:14:06.260 --> 00:14:07.300
 for Jesus.

00:14:08.300 --> 00:14:09.540
 But the Jewish leaders

00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:10.320
 really should have

00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:10.800
 known better

00:14:10.800 --> 00:14:11.300
 because they had

00:14:11.300 --> 00:14:12.140
 confronted Jesus

00:14:12.140 --> 00:14:12.960
 and tried to trap him

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.400
 in the past

00:14:13.400 --> 00:14:14.100
 and had failed

00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.580
 multiple times

00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.340
 in the Gospel of Luke

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.140
 and Jesus sees

00:14:17.140 --> 00:14:17.760
 right through

00:14:17.760 --> 00:14:18.580
 their hypocrisy

00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.120
 and deceit.

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:20.500
 It says in verse 23

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.720
 that he perceived

00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:23.159
 their craftiness.

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.179
 Then Jesus says to them,

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.120
 show me a denarius

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.240
 whose likeness

00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.220
 and inscription

00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.519
 does it have?

00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:33.360
 They said,

00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.340
 Caesar.

00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.460
 This is brilliant.

00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.700
 Jesus already knows

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.820
 that the image

00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.519
 and inscription

00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:43.259
 on the Roman denarius

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.620
 is of Caesar,

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.279
 Tiberius.

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.960
 But he asks them

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.620
 to show me a denarius

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:50.440
 so that these

00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.840
 insincere spies

00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:52.960
 have to reach

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.179
 into their pockets

00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:55.419
 and produce

00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:56.139
 a denarius.

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:58.340
 The Roman denarius

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.379
 was a silver coin

00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.980
 worth one day's wage

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:03.299
 of a common laborer.

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.740
 And at this time,

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.740
 on the front,

00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.840
 I think I have an image

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.740
 actually I can project

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.379
 to show you.

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.399
 On the front,

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.279
 it had the image

00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.560
 of Tiberius Caesar.

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.220
 It was inscribed

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.840
 in Latin

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.659
 in abbreviated form.

00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:17.500
 Tiberius Caesar,

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.320
 son of the divine

00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.200
 Augustus,

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.320
 Augustus.

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.279
 On the back,

00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:25.039
 it bore the image

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.200
 of Tiberius' mother,

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:26.679
 Livia,

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.279
 who is styled,

00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:29.559
 he's depicted

00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:30.279
 like the goddess

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:30.960
 of peace.

00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.700
 And it has the inscription

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:34.580
 Pontifex Maximus,

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.000
 meaning high priest.

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.639
 So,

00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:41.460
 keep that picture in mind.

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:43.500
 even the sight

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.680
 of this coin

00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.820
 would have been

00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.420
 repulsive

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.940
 to devout Jews.

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:50.879
 They wanted no part

00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.500
 in the Roman

00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.660
 pagan religion

00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:53.580
 and emperor worship.

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.560
 It has two

00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:56.000
 idolatrous images

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.379
 on it.

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.280
 It contains

00:15:57.280 --> 00:15:58.220
 the blasphemy

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.420
 that Caesar

00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.480
 is a son of God.

00:16:03.280 --> 00:16:04.019
 In fact,

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.379
 you know that

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.060
 they were offended

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:06.420
 by this

00:16:06.420 --> 00:16:06.980
 because later

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:08.180
 in 66 AD,

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:10.719
 about 36 years later,

00:16:10.859 --> 00:16:12.919
 30 or so years later

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.099
 after Jesus,

00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:15.679
 the first Jewish revolt,

00:16:15.839 --> 00:16:16.539
 one of the first things

00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.000
 that they do

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.579
 after gaining

00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:18.719
 their short-lived independence

00:16:18.719 --> 00:16:19.279
 is they mint

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.000
 their own coins.

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.139
 And yet,

00:16:22.239 --> 00:16:23.000
 these spies

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:35.120
 sent by the Jewish leaders

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:37.580
 pretending to be

00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.899
 Jewish loyalists,

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.779
 acting like they're

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.580
 concerned with

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.659
 keeping God's law

00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.460
 and wanting

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.200
 nothing to do

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.440
 with the idolatry

00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:46.840
 of Rome,

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.820
 yet here they are

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.799
 right in their pockets,

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:50.539
 they're carrying

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:52.000
 the symbol

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.299
 of their subjugation,

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.320
 that economic symbol

00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.279
 of their allegiance

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.840
 to Caesar

00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:58.139
 right in their pockets,

00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.179
 readily accessible,

00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.100
 proving not only

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.759
 that they acknowledge

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.360
 pragmatically

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.700
 Rome's rule over them,

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.099
 they're freely engaging

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:07.200
 in commercial activity

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.519
 using Roman currency.

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.960
 So in doing this,

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.559
 in asking them

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.420
 to reproduce

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.140
 a denarius,

00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:13.599
 Jesus is exposing

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:14.980
 the spies' hypocrisy

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.880
 and since they are

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.720
 acting as the Jewish

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.900
 leader's proxies,

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.779
 he's also exposing

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.599
 the Jewish leader's

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.480
 hypocrisy as well.

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.000
 Jesus described

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.740
 the Jewish leaders

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.819
 earlier in Luke 16

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:26.019
 as lovers of money

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.980
 and in Luke 19,

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.299
 45 to 46,

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.140
 Jesus accused

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.000
 the temple merchants

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.339
 and the Jewish leaders

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.259
 who gave them

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.400
 permission to sell

00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:36.440
 there at the temple,

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.519
 turn the temple,

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.099
 which is supposed

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.000
 to be a house of prayer,

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.980
 into a den of robbers.

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:42.099
 Jesus accused them

00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:42.460
 of that

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.960
 and we see here again

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.220
 that their piety

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:47.519
 was only a pretext

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.279
 for their greed.

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.960
 They pretended

00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.700
 to be offended

00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.859
 by the Roman emperor

00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:52.259
 worship.

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.559
 They pretended

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:55.579
 to be Jewish purists

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.000
 who wanted nothing

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.899
 to do with Rome.

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.019
 They pretended

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.019
 to be indignant

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.359
 toward their fellow Jews

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.639
 who seemed content

00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.339
 to live under

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.519
 Roman subjugation.

00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:06.539
 Yet in reality,

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.980
 they didn't bat an eye

00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:08.920
 as they handled

00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:09.740
 the idolatrous

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.500
 Roman currency.

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:13.500
 As Roman subjects,

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.660
 Jesus is showing them

00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.259
 that some of the

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.599
 trappings of the Roman Empire

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.619
 are unavoidable.

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.700
 And since the image

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:22.299
 of Caesar is on the denarius,

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.160
 Jesus continues

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.079
 in verse 25,

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.920
 then render to Caesar

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:27.859
 the things that are Caesar's

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.920
 and to God

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.180
 the things that are God's.

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.640
 The word render

00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:33.779
 can also be translated

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.019
 to repay.

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.359
 It's the same Greek word

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.099
 that's used to refer

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.180
 to repaying debt.

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.539
 So the NIV,

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.920
 the New International Version,

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.019
 translates this verse

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.299
 is then give back

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.759
 to Caesar what is Caesar's

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.720
 and to God what is God's.

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.359
 Jesus is saying,

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:50.720
 in effect,

00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.720
 the poll tax

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.980
 and the denarius

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:54.000
 that you used to pay,

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.539
 they belong to Caesar.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.980
 He is your governing authority

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.359
 and your reliable

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.839
 patronage

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.879
 and the services

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.920
 of his government.

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:05.480
 He minted this denarius coin,

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.139
 so repay to him

00:19:07.139 --> 00:19:08.319
 what you owe him.

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.099
 The citizens of a country

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.720
 are, in a sense,

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.880
 genuinely indebted

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:15.079
 to their civil authorities

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.799
 for their service.

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.259
 And it's appropriate

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.500
 to pay taxes

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.500
 to them.

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.400
 This idea is similar

00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:23.079
 to what Paul writes

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.440
 about in Romans 13,

00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.220
 1-7.

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.720
 And it says,

00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:28.200
 let every person

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.160
 be subject

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.519
 to the governing authorities.

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.200
 For there is no authority

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.160
 except from God

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.160
 and those that exist

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.160
 have been instituted

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.700
 by God.

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:36.539
 Therefore,

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.360
 whoever resists

00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:37.980
 the authorities

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.880
 resists what God

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.360
 has appointed

00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.660
 and those who resist

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.740
 will incur judgment.

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.000
 For rulers

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.799
 are not a terror

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.579
 to good conduct

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.180
 but to bad.

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:47.039
 Would you have no fear

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.620
 of the one

00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.460
 who is in authority?

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.000
 Then do what is good

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.160
 and you will receive

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.799
 God's servant

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.420
 for your good.

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.900
 But if you do wrong,

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.539
 be afraid,

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.579
 for he does not bear

00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.579
 the sword in vain.

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.980
 For he is the servant

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.440
 of God,

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.200
 an avenger

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.180
 who carries out

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.920
 God's wrath

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.839
 on the wrongdoer.

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:03.880
 Therefore,

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.079
 one must be in subjection

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.140
 not only to avoid

00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.839
 God's wrath

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.900
 but also for the sake

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.500
 of conscience.

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.940
 For because of this

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.140
 you also pay taxes.

00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.460
 For the authorities

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.599
 are ministers of God

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.039
 attending to this very thing.

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.500
 Pay to all

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:19.720
 taxes to whom

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.759
 taxes are owed,

00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:21.799
 revenue to whom

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.619
 revenue is owed,

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.940
 respect to whom

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:26.440
 honor to whom

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.799
 honor is owed.

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.980
 So being subject

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.660
 to human governing authorities

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.819
 and being subject

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.319
 to God

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.759
 are not necessarily

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.160
 mutually exclusive

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:36.980
 is what Jesus

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.700
 is teaching here.

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.799
 In fact,

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.860
 no human ruler

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:41.000
 comes to power

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.799
 outside of God's

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.340
 sovereign rule.

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.440
 All human authorities

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:46.819
 exercise derived

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.940
 authority from God.

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.039
 They exist

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.799
 to do God's

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.140
 business.

00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:52.759
 So it's appropriate

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.440
 for Christians

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.340
 to pay taxes

00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:55.319
 and be subject

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:55.880
 to them.

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.319
 As long as

00:20:57.319 --> 00:21:00.080
 in this story,

00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:01.000
 as long as the Jews

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.080
 are not themselves

00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:02.940
 worshiping

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.200
 Caesar Tiberius

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:04.819
 themselves,

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.519
 paying the poll tax

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.119
 to him

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.779
 does not need

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.240
 to violate

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.039
 their conscience.

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.619
 Because in many cases,

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.519
 political allegiance

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.359
 to human authorities

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.440
 is not directly

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.160
 opposed to our

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.960
 allegiance to God.

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.680
 So Jesus is

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.680
 saying here

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.359
 that he's not

00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.259
 the political

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.819
 revolutionary

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.680
 that many people

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.420
 wanted him to be.

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.180
 But Jesus is not

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.099
 merely being

00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:26.980
 submissive to the

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.859
 Roman Empire either.

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.359
 Because in one sense,

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.859
 he is calling for

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.759
 submission to human

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.180
 authorities,

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.600
 but in another

00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:34.980
 sense,

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.900
 Jesus' answer

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.660
 is very

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.620
 subversive.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.539
 Because he's

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.160
 not simply

00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:40.940
 saying that

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.799
 Caesar and

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.539
 God are

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.740
 these equivalent

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.860
 but separate

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:46.160
 authorities that

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.519
 should have

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.019
 nothing to do

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.539
 with each other.

00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:47.940
 That's not

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.240
 what he's

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:48.480
 saying.

00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.720
 Look again at

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.039
 what Jesus

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.380
 says in

00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.060
 verse 25.

00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:52.640
 Then render

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:53.460
 to Caesar

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.720
 the things

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.060
 that are

00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:55.820
 Caesar's,

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.220
 and to God

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.840
 the things

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.140
 that are

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:58.580
 God's.

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.440
 At the very

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.900
 least,

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.220
 then,

00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:01.940
 Jesus is

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.779
 asserting here

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.579
 that Caesar,

00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.299
 contrary to

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.059
 his own

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.879
 presumptuous

00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:07.399
 claims,

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.559
 is not

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:08.980
 God.

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.920
 The things

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.259
 that belong

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.639
 to Caesar

00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:11.940
 are not

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.379
 the same

00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:12.700
 as the

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.039
 things that

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.500
 belong to

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.740
 God.

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:14.660
 He

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.399
 distinguishes

00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:16.039
 Caesar from

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.319
 God.

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.519
 But beyond

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.779
 this,

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.259
 Jesus had

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.779
 asked in

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.500
 verse 24,

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.160
 whose likeness

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.480
 and inscription

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.180
 does the

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.980
 denarius have?

00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:24.779
 And people

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.319
 replied,

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.259
 Caesar's.

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.460
 It's

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.119
 appropriate for

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.579
 people to

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.460
 pay Caesar

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.119
 the poll tax

00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.559
 because the

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.039
 denarius,

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.500
 which is what

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:32.779
 it would have

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.119
 cost,

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:33.920
 it has

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.980
 his likeness

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.160
 or image

00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:36.819
 on it.

00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.000
 It's the

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.460
 same word.

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.519
 Now,

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.000
 that begs

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.500
 the question,

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.259
 what are

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.660
 the things

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:41.920
 that are

00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.440
 God's?

00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.400
 If the

00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:44.779
 things that

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.180
 belong to

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.660
 Caesar are

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.019
 the things

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.420
 that has

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.220
 his face

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.619
 on it,

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.680
 his image

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:48.960
 on it,

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.599
 what has

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.039
 God's

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.460
 image on

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:50.579
 it?

00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.380
 The word

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.160
 likeness is

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.640
 the same

00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.000
 word that

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.420
 is used

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.960
 in Genesis

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.339
 1,

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:56.799
 26,

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.000
 the time

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.599
 of creation,

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.180
 when God

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.579
 says,

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.299
 let us

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.139
 make man

00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:02.299
 in our

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:02.960
 image

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.419
 after our

00:23:04.419 --> 00:23:05.359
 likeness.

00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:07.659
 Humans

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.879
 have God's

00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:09.299
 image

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.740
 stamped on

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:10.960
 them.

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.139
 They were

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:13.019
 created by

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.579
 God to

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.639
 represent him

00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.460
 and to

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.399
 resemble him

00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:17.339
 by ruling

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.699
 over creation

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:20.000
 as his

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.139
 vassal kings,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.480
 as his

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.220
 vice-regents.

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.720
 So then,

00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.259
 what are

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.500
 the things

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.799
 that are

00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.079
 God's?

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.699
 You can see

00:23:26.699 --> 00:23:27.359
 why this is

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.039
 so subversive.

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.339
 He's saying,

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.059
 give to

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.579
 Caesar the

00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:30.000
 things that

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.500
 belong to

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:30.859
 Caesar,

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.559
 and give

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.059
 to God

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:32.500
 the things

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:32.940
 that belong

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.339
 to God.

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:33.960
 What has

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.500
 God's image

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:34.859
 on it?

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.279
 And what

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:36.659
 he's saying

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.079
 in essence

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.779
 is you

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:39.059
 owe your

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.980
 very selves

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.480
 to God,

00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:42.059
 your very

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.740
 lives to

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.019
 God.

00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:43.879
 Sure,

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.319
 you owe

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.039
 a portion

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.379
 of your

00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:46.079
 income to

00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:46.339
 Caesar,

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:46.980
 you owe

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.659
 taxes to

00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:47.819
 Caesar,

00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.279
 but you

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.579
 owe

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.480
 everything

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.579
 to God.

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.460
 As King

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.159
 David prays

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:52.480
 to God

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.339
 in 1 Chronicles

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:53.720
 29,

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.319
 14,

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.460
 for all

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.379
 things come

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:57.279
 from you,

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.399
 and of

00:23:58.399 --> 00:23:59.180
 your own

00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.660
 have we

00:23:59.660 --> 00:23:59.960
 given

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.859
 you.

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.420
 What Jesus

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:03.019
 is teaching

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.440
 here is

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:03.980
 simultaneously

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.000
 submission to

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.680
 human government,

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.079
 but it's

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:09.539
 also a

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.779
 form of

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.240
 subversion.

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.440
 He's teaching

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.000
 us that while

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.940
 we are to be

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.480
 subject to

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.039
 various human

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.480
 authorities,

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.920
 we owe

00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.759
 our ultimate

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.059
 allegiance to

00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.440
 the Lord

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.000
 our God.

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.480
 Caesar and

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.039
 God are not

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.460
 equivalent

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.059
 authorities.

00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.619
 God's claim

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:25.799
 claim on

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.659
 our lives

00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:27.779
 and on

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.479
 our world

00:24:28.479 --> 00:24:29.399
 trumps

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.419
 Caesar's

00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:31.219
 claim on

00:24:31.219 --> 00:24:31.739
 our lives

00:24:31.739 --> 00:24:32.039
 and on

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.539
 our world.

00:24:34.179 --> 00:24:34.599
 And Jesus

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.239
 also in

00:24:35.239 --> 00:24:35.659
 doing this

00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:36.379
 is exposing

00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.279
 the idolatry

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.879
 and condemning

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.679
 the idolatry

00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:40.079
 of emperor

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.500
 worship.

00:24:41.479 --> 00:24:41.779
 In the

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.239
 second of

00:24:42.239 --> 00:24:42.539
 the Ten

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.000
 Commandments

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.459
 in Exodus

00:24:43.459 --> 00:24:43.919
 20,

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.419
 verse 4,

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:44.699
 it says

00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:45.379
 very clearly

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.079
 that we

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.519
 are not

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.099
 to make

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.879
 an image

00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.500
 or any

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.299
 likeness

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.479
 of anything

00:24:50.479 --> 00:24:51.799
 as a

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.339
 representation

00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.039
 of God.

00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.619
 That's why

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.279
 Deuteronomy

00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.899
 chapter 4,

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.599
 verses 15

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.119
 to 16

00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.659
 say this

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.240
 specifically,

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.319
 since you

00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.139
 saw no

00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:01.419
 form on

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.939
 the day

00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:02.459
 that the

00:25:02.459 --> 00:25:03.079
 Lord spoke

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.480
 to you

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.019
 at Horeb

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.399
 out of

00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:04.740
 the midst

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.000
 of the

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.339
 fire,

00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.379
 beware

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:06.879
 lest you

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.179
 act

00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.959
 corruptly

00:25:07.959 --> 00:25:08.639
 by making

00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.139
 a carved

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.939
 image for

00:25:09.939 --> 00:25:10.459
 yourselves

00:25:10.459 --> 00:25:11.139
 in the

00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:11.799
 form of

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.179
 any

00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:12.759
 figure.

00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:14.379
 Because we

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.599
 serve God

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.000
 who is

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.459
 spirit,

00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.220
 because we

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:17.659
 serve an

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.599
 invisible God,

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:19.899
 he's saying

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.740
 it's inappropriate

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.679
 to depict

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.019
 him.

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.039
 That's why

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.400
 the Bible

00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.440
 never describes

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.900
 God's

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.240
 appearance.

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.519
 The New

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.140
 Testament also

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.980
 never gives

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.820
 a picture

00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:29.420
 of Jesus.

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.620
 It's not

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.620
 interested in

00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:31.920
 how he

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.360
 looked,

00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.220
 only in

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.539
 what he

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.039
 said.

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.500
 The word,

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.259
 not the

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.700
 image,

00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:37.539
 is what's

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:37.920
 prominent

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.620
 in

00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.160
 Christianity.

00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:41.340
 And so

00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:42.940
 Jesus is

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.440
 teaching the

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:43.759
 ultimate

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.320
 superiority,

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:44.960
 the ultimate

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.440
 allegiance

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.740
 that we

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.140
 ought to

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:47.600
 give to

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:47.980
 God.

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:48.820
 His

00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.480
 image is

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.940
 on you.

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.360
 It

00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:52.840
 doesn't

00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.600
 matter how

00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.140
 loyal you

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.299
 are,

00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.060
 how patriotic

00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:55.560
 you are,

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.180
 it doesn't

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.740
 matter what

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.080
 kind of

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.299
 human

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.840
 authorities

00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:58.640
 are in

00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:58.820
 your

00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.420
 lives,

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.660
 no

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.580
 president,

00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.480
 no

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.060
 country,

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:03.860
 no

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.360
 governor,

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:04.759
 no

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.360
 parent,

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.000
 no

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.620
 professor,

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.160
 has a

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.860
 higher claim

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:09.440
 to your

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:09.980
 allegiance

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.920
 than your

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.940
 creator God

00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.840
 who stamped

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.640
 on you

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.180
 his very

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.600
 image.

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:15.840
 That's the

00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:16.160
 point that

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.500
 Jesus is

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.720
 making.

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.200
 this is

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.579
 why we

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.160
 see many

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.660
 examples

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:19.960
 throughout

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.319
 scripture

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.779
 of God

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.400
 commending

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:22.799
 civil

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.460
 disobedience

00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:23.880
 as well.

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:24.960
 The

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.360
 Egyptian

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.100
 midwives

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:26.960
 disobey

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.600
 Pharaoh

00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:29.500
 when Pharaoh

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.019
 commends

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.539
 them to

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.140
 kill the

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.380
 Jewish

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.059
 male babies.

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.640
 Obadiah

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.440
 disobeys

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.000
 Jezebel

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.539
 the queen

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.579
 when she

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.100
 commends

00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:38.180
 him and

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.779
 everyone else

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.220
 to kill

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.759
 the Lord's

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.140
 prophets.

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.180
 And Obadiah

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.059
 instead protects

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.220
 them and

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.700
 provides for

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.000
 them in

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.299
 secret.

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.400
 Shadrach,

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:45.819
 Meshach,

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.420
 and Abednego

00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.180
 refused to

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.840
 bow down

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.400
 and worship

00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:48.880
 the golden

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.560
 image of

00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:50.300
 Nebuchadnezzar.

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.519
 Daniel

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.240
 disobeys

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.920
 King Darius'

00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.580
 edict that

00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:54.100
 no one in

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.420
 the kingdom

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:54.860
 should pray

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.300
 to anyone

00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:55.720
 but to

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.180
 the king.

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.080
 And he

00:26:58.080 --> 00:26:58.700
 prays to

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.060
 God as

00:26:59.060 --> 00:26:59.279
 he has

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.880
 always done.

00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:00.600
 And in

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.340
 Acts 5

00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.080
 verse 29

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:03.240
 when the

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.039
 apostles of

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.560
 Christ are

00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:05.460
 strictly charged

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.860
 by the

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.140
 Jewish

00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:06.700
 authorities

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.840
 never to

00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.580
 preach in

00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:08.900
 Jesus'

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:09.720
 name again,

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.820
 Peter and

00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:11.240
 the apostles

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.960
 answer them,

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.720
 we must

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.700
 obey God

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.539
 rather than

00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:14.860
 men.

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:16.519
 all these

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.059
 show that

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.719
 when submitting

00:27:17.719 --> 00:27:18.319
 to human

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.099
 authority means

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.240
 rebelling against

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.379
 God, we must

00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:21.959
 obey God

00:27:21.959 --> 00:27:22.399
 rather than

00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:22.779
 men because

00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.099
 he's a

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.759
 higher authority.

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.599
 Now, this

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.159
 shows us also

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.259
 that there isn't a

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.059
 strict separation.

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.799
 Our ultimate

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.919
 allegiance to God

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.919
 should affect the

00:27:32.919 --> 00:27:33.559
 way we pay

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.339
 allegiance to our

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.119
 political authorities.

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.679
 And this is why

00:27:36.679 --> 00:27:38.099
 I'm going to

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:39.000
 digress just a

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.679
 little bit to

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:40.959
 give some

00:27:40.959 --> 00:27:41.619
 principles that I

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.219
 think flow from

00:27:42.219 --> 00:27:42.539
 this.

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:44.059
 And this is

00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.500
 why I think

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.180
 it's inaccurate

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.440
 and unbiblical

00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.659
 to resign

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.579
 ourselves to

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.720
 total political

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.259
 passivity,

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.680
 saying, you

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.159
 know, well, we

00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:52.940
 can't legislate

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.819
 morality, right?

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.839
 We should seek

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:57.000
 to influence our

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.779
 civil authorities

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.240
 to be more

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.039
 closely aligned

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.960
 with what God

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.960
 teaches us to

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.359
 be right and

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.619
 wrong.

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:03.019
 We saw earlier

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.980
 in Romans 13

00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.539
 verse 3,

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.460
 rulers are not

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.139
 a terror to

00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:06.920
 good conduct

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:08.059
 but to bad.

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.920
 It is the

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.039
 government's job

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.259
 to legislate and

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.400
 enforce morality.

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:14.900
 And they're

00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.319
 going to do

00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:15.640
 that whether

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.140
 you like it

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.599
 or not.

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.019
 And as

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.900
 citizens in

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.940
 a country where

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.420
 we have the

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.900
 right to vote,

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.279
 we need to

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.000
 exercise that

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.259
 right.

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.480
 It's impossible

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.559
 only to preach

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.519
 the gospel and

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.359
 act like we

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:26.960
 have nothing to

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.359
 do with

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.879
 politics.

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.480
 To take no

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.220
 stance at all

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.980
 is to take a

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.220
 stance.

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.660
 And this is

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.140
 actually the

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.079
 exact logic that

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.640
 some Christians

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.779
 used in the

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.720
 19th century to

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.440
 punt on the

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.819
 issue of

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.019
 slavery, saying

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.500
 let's not get

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.000
 too political,

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:40.379
 let's just focus

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:40.980
 on preaching the

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.259
 gospel.

00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.279
 To be neutral

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.839
 on those things

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.579
 is to take a

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:44.879
 side.

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.160
 Now let me be

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:47.259
 clear in saying

00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:47.859
 this, that it

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:49.019
 is not the

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.960
 church's mission,

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.099
 the gatherer

00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.559
 church, it is

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.379
 not the church's

00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:52.920
 mission to

00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.779
 legislate morality

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.640
 and lobby for

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.480
 political change.

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.980
 The church's

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.579
 mission is to

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.859
 glorify God by

00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:00.000
 making disciples of

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.200
 Jesus Christ, by

00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.700
 the power of the

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.119
 Holy Spirit.

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.960
 That's our

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.839
 explicit commission

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.559
 from the risen

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.379
 Lord Jesus in

00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:06.039
 Matthew 28.

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.460
 That's where our

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:08.319
 primary focus

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.720
 should be.

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.980
 However, it is

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.900
 also true that

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:12.079
 every Christian

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.579
 who truly believes

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.519
 the good news of

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.360
 Jesus Christ does

00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:17.839
 good works as

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.559
 they live in

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.500
 society, as they

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.000
 relate to their

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.400
 neighbors.

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.620
 And seeking

00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.500
 political change

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.100
 for the sake of

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.819
 the common good,

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:25.680
 especially in a

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.440
 democratic society

00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.259
 like ours, is

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.900
 good works.

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.279
 It's true that

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.740
 only the gospel of

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:33.299
 Jesus Christ and

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.160
 the Holy Spirit's

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.400
 power can transform

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.680
 us inside and

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:36.819
 out.

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.200
 Only the gospel of

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.000
 Jesus Christ, only

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.559
 God can transform

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.379
 human hearts.

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.480
 So we shouldn't be

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.480
 deluded into thinking

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.399
 that we can somehow

00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:46.519
 bring about utopia

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.379
 through political

00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.819
 activism.

00:29:47.939 --> 00:29:48.519
 That's never going to

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:48.819
 happen.

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.379
 And that's why we

00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:51.759
 should prioritize the

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.179
 preaching of the

00:29:52.179 --> 00:29:53.099
 gospel, also because

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.159
 that's our unique

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:55.200
 Christian vocation.

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.119
 Unbelievers can be

00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:57.819
 active politically.

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.679
 They can lobby for

00:29:58.679 --> 00:29:59.019
 change.

00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.279
 They can fight for

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.939
 social justice.

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:02.599
 Only believers can

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.439
 proclaim the gospel.

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.819
 That's why there

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.659
 should be a priority

00:30:05.659 --> 00:30:06.079
 for that.

00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:06.619
 Priority.

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.659
 for proclaiming

00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:07.960
 the gospel.

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.139
 However, this does

00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:10.099
 not mean that we

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.899
 should be totally

00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:12.259
 detached from the

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.419
 things of Caesar.

00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.240
 We can't be.

00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:17.480
 Good laws not only

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.700
 restrain bad behavior,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.700
 they also teach good

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.039
 behavior.

00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.700
 And there are real

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.679
 civic responsibilities

00:30:22.679 --> 00:30:23.720
 that we ought to

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.539
 carry out.

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.519
 And in our carrying

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.119
 out of our civic

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:28.859
 responsibility, we

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.720
 should reflect our

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.619
 ultimate allegiance to

00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:30.839
 God.

00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:32.599
 And I'm going to

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.399
 just give you two

00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:35.159
 words of caution as

00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:36.059
 you engage in

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.859
 political discourse.

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.059
 First, we need to

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.399
 distinguish general

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:41.379
 revelation and

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.859
 special revelation.

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.299
 General revelation

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.740
 is what God has

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:48.099
 revealed in general

00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:49.419
 to all of humanity.

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:50.759
 It's what we can

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.000
 know about God and

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.740
 his will through

00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.779
 natural means.

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.319
 This would include

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:57.000
 our reason, what we

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.339
 know about God or

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:58.779
 what we know about

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.759
 his creation from

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.720
 biology, from

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.859
 history, from

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:03.419
 sociology, for

00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:03.779
 example.

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.960
 And this would

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.340
 include our

00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:06.440
 conscience, the

00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:07.340
 moral compass that

00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:08.680
 we have in general

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.400
 that all of

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.320
 humanity has.

00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.700
 Even though these

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.720
 things are compromised

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:14.279
 by sin, they are

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:14.960
 still there and

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.519
 there is still a lot

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.140
 of common ground

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.800
 with the rest of the

00:31:16.800 --> 00:31:17.039
 world.

00:31:18.060 --> 00:31:18.940
 Special revelation,

00:31:19.060 --> 00:31:19.620
 on the other hand,

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.340
 is what God has

00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:21.340
 revealed especially

00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:23.019
 to his people, to

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.039
 his people whom he

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:25.380
 saves for his glory.

00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.940
 It's knowledge that

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:28.180
 can be gained only

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.300
 through supernatural

00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:29.960
 means.

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:31.299
 As 1 Corinthians

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:32.720
 chapter 2, 1

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.620
 Corinthians chapter 2

00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:35.319
 verses 6 to 16

00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.579
 teaches, only the

00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:37.860
 spirit of God can

00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:40.039
 reveal saving personal

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.860
 knowledge of God.

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.120
 That's special

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:42.559
 revelation.

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.180
 We can legislate

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.100
 things, vote for

00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:46.980
 things that pertain to

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.000
 general revelation

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.319
 because that knowledge

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:50.660
 is available to all

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:51.259
 of humanity.

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.039
 We can reason with

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.059
 them about, for

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.079
 example, the sanctity

00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.819
 of human life.

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:58.120
 We can reason with

00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:58.840
 them about the

00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:01.139
 of all peoples, the

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:02.379
 dignity of the poor.

00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.819
 We can reason with

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.259
 them about these

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.459
 things.

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.299
 We can legislate

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.000
 those kinds of

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.779
 moral issues.

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:07.779
 But we cannot

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.759
 legislate things that

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.779
 pertain to special

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:11.339
 revelation because

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:12.179
 that knowledge is

00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:13.240
 unavailable to

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.819
 unbelievers.

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.319
 We can't legislate

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:15.639
 faith.

00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.619
 We can't legally

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.819
 require that people

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:20.439
 be Christians to

00:32:20.439 --> 00:32:21.459
 worship or to pray

00:32:21.459 --> 00:32:21.799
 to God.

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.319
 You can force fake

00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.259
 conversions but you

00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:26.019
 can't force real

00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.299
 ones.

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:28.399
 And second

00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:29.519
 caution is that we

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.220
 need to distinguish

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.299
 biblical principles

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.299
 from the political

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.980
 policies.

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:35.440
 We can all agree

00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.500
 from general

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.379
 revelation that

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.299
 caring for the

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:38.879
 poor, the

00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.440
 widows, and the

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.359
 orphans is a good

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:40.680
 thing.

00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.319
 Even unbelievers

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.319
 can recognize that.

00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.960
 As believers, we

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.879
 are taught this

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:46.779
 specifically from

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.440
 God's word as

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:47.680
 well.

00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.740
 That's the

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.539
 biblical principle

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:51.579
 but there could be

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.379
 a range of

00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:53.339
 differing opinions

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.519
 on how we

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.899
 actually accomplish

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.259
 that.

00:32:57.320 --> 00:32:57.980
 Some people

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.660
 will argue that

00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.400
 the best way to

00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.380
 do that is to

00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:00.820
 care for the

00:33:00.820 --> 00:33:01.500
 poor is to let

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:02.220
 the free market

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.480
 run its course so

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:03.880
 that there is

00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.740
 increased wealth

00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.519
 overall throughout

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.040
 society.

00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.680
 Others will argue

00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.460
 that the best way to

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:09.120
 care for the poor

00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.660
 is to redistribute

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.759
 the wealth,

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.580
 existing wealth

00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:14.019
 that's concentrated

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.620
 at the top.

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.100
 And still others

00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:16.900
 will land somewhere

00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.620
 in between.

00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.620
 But the Bible does

00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:21.060
 not provide specific

00:33:21.060 --> 00:33:22.259
 guidelines for many

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.140
 political policies

00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.860
 especially in our

00:33:23.860 --> 00:33:24.660
 specific context.

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.840
 So we need to

00:33:25.840 --> 00:33:26.480
 distinguish the

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.460
 biblical principles

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:29.019
 and the policies

00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:30.400
 and recognize that

00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.300
 good Christians who

00:33:31.300 --> 00:33:32.060
 agree on the

00:33:32.060 --> 00:33:32.980
 principles can still

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:34.340
 disagree amicably

00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:36.140
 on the policies.

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.200
 That was, sorry,

00:33:38.320 --> 00:33:38.920
 kind of a long

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.360
 digression.

00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.740
 But I do think it

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.460
 flows from the text.

00:33:41.540 --> 00:33:42.200
 Hopefully it forms

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.140
 you as you think

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:43.740
 about these things

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.920
 about the relationship

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.840
 between church and

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.540
 state and about

00:33:46.540 --> 00:33:47.980
 God and Caesar and

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.000
 what are obligations

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.640
 in both spheres.

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:52.259
 And so the,

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.500
 but the main point

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.100
 to get back to it

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:54.420
 is this,

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.820
 the spies ask Jesus

00:33:55.820 --> 00:33:56.940
 an either or question.

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:59.000
 Is it lawful for us

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.700
 to give tribute

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.840
 to Caesar or not?

00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:02.240
 Should we serve

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.440
 Caesar as our king

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.440
 or should we serve

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.380
 God as our king?

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:07.040
 But Jesus answers

00:34:07.040 --> 00:34:08.760
 with a both and answer.

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.380
 Render to Caesar

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.180
 the things that are

00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:12.519
 Caesar's and to God

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.360
 the things that are

00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:13.780
 God's.

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.480
 There are duties

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.559
 to civil authorities

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.780
 that do not infringe

00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.220
 upon our ultimate

00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:19.960
 duties to God.

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.699
 Perform those.

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.319
 But civil authorities

00:34:23.319 --> 00:34:24.219
 do not have

00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.539
 total claim on us.

00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:27.059
 Our allegiance to them

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:28.000
 is subordinated

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.859
 to our allegiance

00:34:28.859 --> 00:34:29.299
 to God.

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.359
 So then we should

00:34:30.359 --> 00:34:31.719
 perform our duties

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:32.259
 as citizens

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.639
 of the kingdom of man

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:35.019
 without forgetting

00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:36.719
 our primary identity

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.619
 and prior responsibilities

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.839
 as citizens

00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:41.039
 of the kingdom of God.

00:34:42.319 --> 00:34:44.219
 I think totalitarian

00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:45.739
 governments

00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.759
 understand this,

00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:48.179
 how subversive

00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:49.139
 this idea is.

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:50.480
 that's why

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.819
 many totalitarian

00:34:51.819 --> 00:34:52.960
 governments throughout

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.699
 history have

00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:55.059
 felt threatened

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.920
 by Christians,

00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:56.639
 by churches

00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.500
 and have persecuted

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:57.900
 Christians.

00:34:59.359 --> 00:35:00.279
 I think they're

00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:01.599
 wrong to think

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.099
 that Christians

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:03.339
 pose a military threat

00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:04.039
 because Jesus

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:05.199
 specifically said

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:05.719
 my kingdom

00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:06.799
 is not of this world.

00:35:07.379 --> 00:35:08.059
 If it were,

00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:09.819
 he would have people

00:35:09.819 --> 00:35:10.480
 fighting for him.

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:11.940
 But they're not.

00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.819
 This kingdom

00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:13.440
 is not of his,

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:16.019
 not of his,

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.659
 his kingdom

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.480
 is of another world.

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:20.139
 So we do not fight

00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:20.659
 to establish

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.460
 an earthly kingdom

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:23.079
 but we are citizens

00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:24.820
 of a heavenly kingdom.

00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.719
 But the governments

00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:27.980
 that try to have

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.960
 absolute power,

00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:30.699
 try to have

00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:31.759
 the total allegiance

00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:32.759
 of their subjects

00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:33.380
 have historically

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.739
 persecuted the church.

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.579
 And there's an example

00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.059
 of this from

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.019
 fourth century.

00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:39.340
 Roman historian

00:35:39.340 --> 00:35:39.940
 Eusebius

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:41.199
 recounts this persecution

00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.199
 of an early Christian

00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:43.039
 named Sanctus.

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:44.800
 This man was tortured

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.500
 for his faith

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.940
 in 177 AD

00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:48.119
 and Eusebius

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:48.779
 writes about it

00:35:48.779 --> 00:35:49.159
 this way,

00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:49.860
 quote,

00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:51.800
 with such determination

00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:53.380
 did he stand up

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.940
 to their onslaughts

00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.599
 that he would not

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.980
 tell them his own name,

00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:57.980
 race,

00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:59.039
 and birthplace

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.219
 or whether he was

00:36:00.219 --> 00:36:01.059
 slave or free.

00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.980
 To every question

00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.900
 he replied in Latin,

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.320
 I am a Christian.

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.480
 This he proclaimed

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:10.199
 over and over again

00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.420
 instead of name,

00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:11.980
 birthplace,

00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.579
 birthplace,

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.820
 nationality,

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.740
 and everything else.

00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:15.860
 And not another word

00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:16.500
 did the heathen

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.420
 hear from him.

00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:20.219
 In one sense,

00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:21.400
 governments should

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:22.500
 feel threatened

00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.420
 by the church

00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.139
 if they seek

00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:25.179
 total allegiance.

00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:26.659
 We will not

00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:28.059
 seek the military

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:29.179
 might to usurp

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:29.639
 the throne

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.559
 of the kingdom of man,

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.579
 but should they

00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:32.659
 seek to usurp

00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.800
 the throne of God,

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.280
 should they seek

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.579
 to prevent us

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.360
 from following God

00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:39.179
 and obeying God,

00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:40.400
 they better be afraid

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:42.079
 because we have

00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:42.760
 one master

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.400
 and one king,

00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.019
 one God.

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:45.180
 We will resist

00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:46.619
 to our death.

00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.960
 That's part of what

00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:52.019
 Jesus is talking about.

00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:54.119
 God's authority

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.039
 vis-a-vis

00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.820
 Caesar's authority,

00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:58.280
 God's authority

00:36:58.280 --> 00:36:59.420
 trumps it all.

00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:00.960
 No,

00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:01.740
 it doesn't matter

00:37:01.740 --> 00:37:02.579
 what your name is,

00:37:02.660 --> 00:37:03.500
 what your nationality is,

00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:04.400
 what your race is,

00:37:04.680 --> 00:37:05.380
 what your country

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.139
 of origin is,

00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:06.960
 what your country

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.019
 of citizenship is,

00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:08.820
 your allegiance

00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:09.960
 to God

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:11.900
 trumps it all.

00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:13.900
 This is what

00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.719
 Jesus teaches

00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:16.480
 about God's authority

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:17.820
 with relation

00:37:17.820 --> 00:37:18.900
 to Caesar's authority,

00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.079
 but that's not all

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:20.780
 that this passage

00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:21.380
 is about.

00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:22.619
 There's something

00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.179
 kind of,

00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:25.719
 I don't know

00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:26.539
 if this is the appropriate

00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:27.320
 way to use this term,

00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:27.880
 but there's something

00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:28.559
 kind of meta

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.500
 going on here.

00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:34.019
 I had to look it up.

00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.820
 And I've heard

00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.440
 some of you guys

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.280
 say this before.

00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.440
 In this passage,

00:37:38.600 --> 00:37:39.880
 Jesus is teaching us

00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.900
 that while we are

00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.660
 to be subject

00:37:41.660 --> 00:37:44.100
 to various human authorities,

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:45.100
 including Caesar,

00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:47.320
 we owe our ultimate allegiance

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.560
 to the Lord our God.

00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:50.340
 And through this passage,

00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:51.100
 so that's what Jesus

00:37:51.100 --> 00:37:52.040
 is teaching in the passage,

00:37:52.580 --> 00:37:53.680
 but through this passage,

00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:55.040
 Luke, the author,

00:37:55.720 --> 00:37:56.720
 is also teaching

00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:57.560
 his audience

00:37:57.560 --> 00:37:59.260
 that while we are

00:37:59.260 --> 00:37:59.960
 to be subject

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:01.220
 to various human authorities,

00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:02.660
 including the Jewish

00:38:02.660 --> 00:38:03.800
 scribes

00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:04.780
 and chief priests,

00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:06.640
 we owe our ultimate

00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:07.300
 allegiance

00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:09.260
 to the Lord our God

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:10.100
 and to Lord Jesus.

00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:12.840
 Jesus is teaching us

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:13.280
 in this passage

00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:14.240
 that we owe our ultimate

00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:15.100
 allegiance to God,

00:38:15.620 --> 00:38:16.440
 and Luke is teaching us

00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:18.320
 that we owe our ultimate

00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.380
 allegiance to Jesus,

00:38:19.540 --> 00:38:20.380
 the Son of God.

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:22.900
 Remember that this is

00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:23.680
 one part,

00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:25.100
 this passage is one part

00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:27.240
 of a series of confrontations

00:38:27.240 --> 00:38:27.900
 between Jesus

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:29.240
 and the Jewish religious leaders.

00:38:29.239 --> 00:38:31.599
 When Jesus entered Jerusalem

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:33.439
 and entered the temple

00:38:33.439 --> 00:38:34.219
 in chapter 19,

00:38:34.419 --> 00:38:35.359
 he cleared the temple

00:38:35.359 --> 00:38:36.319
 by driving out

00:38:36.319 --> 00:38:36.799
 the merchants

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.759
 and the money changers

00:38:37.759 --> 00:38:38.759
 to create space

00:38:38.759 --> 00:38:39.579
 for people to pray

00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:40.819
 and space for people

00:38:40.819 --> 00:38:41.919
 for him to preach

00:38:41.919 --> 00:38:43.199
 the good news of salvation.

00:38:43.919 --> 00:38:44.779
 And the Jewish elders,

00:38:44.959 --> 00:38:45.439
 the scribes,

00:38:45.459 --> 00:38:46.059
 and chief priests

00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:47.639
 were understandably incensed,

00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:48.779
 and they challenged Jesus

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:50.099
 in chapter 20, verse 2,

00:38:50.479 --> 00:38:51.239
 by demanding,

00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:53.699
 tell us by what authority

00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:55.579
 you do these things,

00:38:55.959 --> 00:38:57.139
 or who it is

00:38:57.139 --> 00:38:58.779
 that gave you this authority.

00:38:59.239 --> 00:39:00.279
 They're saying,

00:39:00.919 --> 00:39:02.279
 we are the power brokers

00:39:02.279 --> 00:39:03.579
 of the Jewish community.

00:39:04.299 --> 00:39:05.879
 We are the gatekeepers

00:39:05.879 --> 00:39:07.519
 of the temple of God.

00:39:07.939 --> 00:39:11.179
 And we did not give you permission

00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:13.679
 to do all that you are doing.

00:39:14.139 --> 00:39:15.779
 So what right do you have?

00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:17.079
 Who do you think you are?

00:39:17.819 --> 00:39:19.299
 And from end of chapter 19

00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:20.219
 all the way through

00:39:20.219 --> 00:39:21.439
 the end of chapter 20,

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:24.099
 it's all a series of confrontations

00:39:24.099 --> 00:39:26.339
 between Jesus and the Jewish leaders.

00:39:26.339 --> 00:39:27.759
 And the main question

00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:29.440
 on the reader's mind is,

00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:31.840
 who has the real authority?

00:39:34.100 --> 00:39:35.840
 Whom should we listen to

00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:37.940
 for guidance,

00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.800
 to find a way of salvation?

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:42.640
 The official Jewish religious leaders

00:39:42.640 --> 00:39:44.720
 or Jesus?

00:39:46.300 --> 00:39:47.500
 That's the question.

00:39:48.080 --> 00:39:49.360
 That's the main question

00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:50.220
 that Luke is answering

00:39:50.220 --> 00:39:51.240
 in this passage.

00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:53.239
 And he makes the choice obvious

00:39:53.239 --> 00:39:55.219
 by drawing a sharp contrast

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:57.079
 between Jesus and the Jewish leaders.

00:39:57.719 --> 00:39:59.019
 He says in verse 19,

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:02.139
 the Jewish leaders fear the people.

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:05.259
 They're crowd pleasers.

00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:06.899
 But Jesus,

00:40:07.319 --> 00:40:08.299
 as his answer shows

00:40:08.299 --> 00:40:09.659
 in verses 24 to 25,

00:40:10.419 --> 00:40:12.619
 has fear for neither Caesar

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:14.079
 nor for the masses.

00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:16.480
 And he says in verse 20,

00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:18.159
 that the spies acting

00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:19.900
 on behalf of the Jewish leaders

00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:22.219
 pretended to be sincere.

00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:24.579
 That phrase is literally

00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:26.559
 to play the hypocrite.

00:40:27.559 --> 00:40:28.699
 In contrast,

00:40:29.159 --> 00:40:30.079
 from the mouths

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:31.019
 of these hypocrites,

00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:32.199
 Jesus is declared

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.079
 in verse 21

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:33.940
 as someone who

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:36.000
 speaks and teaches rightly

00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:38.340
 and shows no partiality,

00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:40.000
 but truly teaches the way

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.079
 to do it.

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:42.079
 The spies here are insincere,

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.860
 insincere.

00:40:43.259 --> 00:40:44.299
 So they don't mean

00:40:44.299 --> 00:40:45.179
 what they say,

00:40:45.299 --> 00:40:45.880
 but nonetheless,

00:40:46.139 --> 00:40:47.380
 what they're saying is true.

00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.960
 In contrast to them

00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:49.960
 who are insincere,

00:40:50.279 --> 00:40:51.799
 Jesus is true.

00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:52.840
 He is sincere.

00:40:53.400 --> 00:40:55.099
 He teaches the right way of God

00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:57.360
 in contrast to the Jewish leaders

00:40:57.360 --> 00:40:58.099
 and their puppets.

00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:00.719
 And there's a decisive victor

00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:01.400
 in this confrontation

00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:02.639
 in this passage as well.

00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:03.900
 He says in verse 20

00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:04.819
 that the Jewish leaders

00:41:04.819 --> 00:41:06.759
 sought to catch Jesus

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.980
 in something he said.

00:41:08.360 --> 00:41:10.000
 So as to deliver him up

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.599
 to the authority

00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:11.860
 and jurisdiction of the governor.

00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:12.900
 They had evil,

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.760
 murderous intent.

00:41:16.220 --> 00:41:17.740
 They sought to destroy Jesus,

00:41:17.860 --> 00:41:18.820
 it said in chapter 19,

00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:19.620
 verse 47.

00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:21.280
 While pretending

00:41:21.280 --> 00:41:21.860
 to be concerned

00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:24.660
 about keeping God's law,

00:41:25.380 --> 00:41:25.860
 they are blatantly

00:41:26.640 --> 00:41:29.180
 trying to break

00:41:29.180 --> 00:41:30.220
 one of the Ten Commandments,

00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:31.440
 trying to frame

00:41:31.440 --> 00:41:32.780
 and kill an innocent man.

00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:34.340
 But their plot

00:41:34.340 --> 00:41:35.340
 is thwarted by Jesus

00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:36.360
 because the result

00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:37.500
 is in verse 26

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:39.039
 that they were not able

00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:40.039
 in the presence

00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:40.639
 of the people

00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:42.059
 to catch Jesus

00:41:42.059 --> 00:41:43.119
 in what he said.

00:41:43.119 --> 00:41:44.559
 But marveling

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.320
 at his answer,

00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:46.860
 they became silent.

00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:49.159
 They tried to trap

00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:50.420
 Jesus in his words,

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:50.800
 but instead

00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:51.679
 they ended up being

00:41:51.679 --> 00:41:53.119
 awed and marveled,

00:41:53.199 --> 00:41:53.719
 silenced

00:41:53.719 --> 00:41:55.239
 by Jesus' words.

00:41:55.639 --> 00:41:56.599
 So who is

00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:58.000
 the authoritative

00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:58.739
 teacher here?

00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:00.659
 Who is

00:42:00.659 --> 00:42:02.099
 truly sent

00:42:02.099 --> 00:42:02.880
 by God?

00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:05.119
 Luke is telling us

00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:05.619
 in this passage

00:42:05.619 --> 00:42:06.360
 that Jesus

00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:07.840
 is the Messiah,

00:42:08.240 --> 00:42:09.539
 the Savior of the world,

00:42:09.640 --> 00:42:10.200
 the Teacher

00:42:10.200 --> 00:42:11.380
 of righteousness.

00:42:11.960 --> 00:42:12.980
 He is the true

00:42:12.980 --> 00:42:13.680
 Son of God.

00:42:14.260 --> 00:42:15.180
 Caesar claimed

00:42:15.180 --> 00:42:16.180
 to be the Son of God,

00:42:16.660 --> 00:42:17.800
 but Jesus really

00:42:17.800 --> 00:42:19.059
 is the Son of God.

00:42:19.140 --> 00:42:20.640
 The image of Caesar

00:42:20.640 --> 00:42:22.119
 is on a denarius,

00:42:22.300 --> 00:42:22.920
 but Jesus,

00:42:23.360 --> 00:42:23.860
 as it says

00:42:23.860 --> 00:42:25.220
 in Colossians 1.15,

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:26.579
 is the image

00:42:26.579 --> 00:42:28.559
 of the invisible God.

00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:30.280
 He's the image

00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:32.019
 of God restored.

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.900
 We as human beings

00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:35.519
 were created

00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:36.380
 to be God's

00:42:36.380 --> 00:42:37.240
 image bearers.

00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:37.840
 We were meant

00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:38.960
 to represent Him

00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:40.400
 to the rest of creation.

00:42:40.760 --> 00:42:41.200
 We were meant

00:42:41.200 --> 00:42:42.240
 to resemble Him,

00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:43.519
 be like Him,

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:44.640
 and rule in His stead.

00:42:45.140 --> 00:42:45.780
 We were meant

00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:46.460
 to pledge

00:42:46.460 --> 00:42:47.640
 our ultimate allegiance

00:42:47.640 --> 00:42:48.099
 to God,

00:42:48.180 --> 00:42:49.280
 but we have all

00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:50.360
 failed in this regard,

00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:50.920
 and that's what

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:52.000
 the Bible calls sin.

00:42:53.000 --> 00:42:54.119
 We've all rebelled

00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:54.840
 against God

00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:55.240
 by choosing

00:42:55.240 --> 00:42:56.340
 to live for ourselves

00:42:56.340 --> 00:42:57.800
 instead of for Him.

00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:58.920
 We've refused

00:42:58.920 --> 00:43:00.039
 to acknowledge Him

00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:00.660
 in our lives,

00:43:01.619 --> 00:43:02.200
 have lived

00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:03.500
 like He doesn't exist,

00:43:04.359 --> 00:43:05.980
 as if His image

00:43:05.980 --> 00:43:07.139
 is not stamped on us

00:43:07.139 --> 00:43:07.859
 as our Creator.

00:43:09.079 --> 00:43:10.519
 We broke all of His,

00:43:10.639 --> 00:43:12.139
 we broke His righteous laws

00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:15.039
 and sinned against His glory,

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:15.859
 His majesty.

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:18.500
 And all that remains

00:43:18.500 --> 00:43:19.639
 for sinful people

00:43:19.639 --> 00:43:22.639
 who has transgressed,

00:43:25.299 --> 00:43:26.219
 rebelled against,

00:43:26.719 --> 00:43:27.799
 committed treason against,

00:43:27.899 --> 00:43:29.179
 and eternal God

00:43:29.179 --> 00:43:30.679
 is eternal punishment.

00:43:31.839 --> 00:43:34.159
 But God so loved us

00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:34.799
 that He sent

00:43:34.799 --> 00:43:35.519
 His only Son

00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:37.559
 to redeem us,

00:43:38.119 --> 00:43:39.460
 to restore

00:43:39.460 --> 00:43:40.460
 the image of God

00:43:40.460 --> 00:43:41.000
 in man,

00:43:41.839 --> 00:43:43.619
 and He does this

00:43:43.619 --> 00:43:45.179
 by dying on the cross

00:43:45.179 --> 00:43:46.359
 for the sins

00:43:46.359 --> 00:43:47.159
 of His people.

00:43:47.799 --> 00:43:48.099
 And thereby,

00:43:48.179 --> 00:43:48.719
 He receives

00:43:48.719 --> 00:43:49.399
 our punishment,

00:43:49.739 --> 00:43:50.419
 He clears

00:43:50.419 --> 00:43:51.859
 our blotched record,

00:43:52.279 --> 00:43:53.119
 so that He might,

00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:54.739
 so that we might

00:43:54.739 --> 00:43:55.759
 be saved by Him

00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:56.640
 and renewed

00:43:56.640 --> 00:43:58.360
 as people

00:43:58.360 --> 00:43:58.940
 in His image

00:43:58.940 --> 00:43:59.820
 to live for Him.

00:44:00.580 --> 00:44:01.580
 So that's the contrast

00:44:01.580 --> 00:44:02.720
 that Luke is drawing here.

00:44:02.840 --> 00:44:04.520
 Jesus is the true

00:44:04.520 --> 00:44:05.080
 good teacher

00:44:05.080 --> 00:44:06.420
 that the Jewish leaders

00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.180
 were not.

00:44:08.140 --> 00:44:09.460
 The Jewish religious leaders

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:10.520
 got in the way

00:44:10.520 --> 00:44:11.280
 of God's people

00:44:11.280 --> 00:44:12.280
 and prevented them

00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:13.160
 from coming to God

00:44:13.160 --> 00:44:14.620
 in order to cling

00:44:14.620 --> 00:44:15.740
 to their own power

00:44:15.740 --> 00:44:16.680
 and glory.

00:44:17.640 --> 00:44:19.140
 Jesus made the way

00:44:19.140 --> 00:44:19.900
 for God's people

00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:20.740
 to come to God

00:44:20.740 --> 00:44:21.860
 by laying down

00:44:21.860 --> 00:44:22.500
 His power

00:44:22.500 --> 00:44:23.340
 and glory.

00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:25.480
 Jewish religious leaders

00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:25.940
 were seeking

00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:26.860
 to kill Jesus

00:44:26.860 --> 00:44:27.480
 while pretending

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.140
 to be righteous,

00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:29.440
 but Jesus,

00:44:29.660 --> 00:44:30.519
 who is righteous,

00:44:31.340 --> 00:44:32.180
 is killed

00:44:32.180 --> 00:44:33.760
 for our sake

00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:35.079
 on the cross.

00:44:36.460 --> 00:44:37.320
 And it's to Him

00:44:37.320 --> 00:44:38.980
 that we owe

00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:39.960
 our ultimate allegiance,

00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:41.260
 even while we

00:44:41.260 --> 00:44:42.000
 are subject

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:42.680
 to various

00:44:42.680 --> 00:44:44.840
 human authorities.

00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:48.059
 And that's the case

00:44:48.059 --> 00:44:50.500
 for our church, too.

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:52.900
 That's the case

00:44:52.900 --> 00:44:55.000
 for the relationship

00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:55.760
 between the pastor

00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:58.199
 and the church's members,

00:44:58.420 --> 00:44:58.760
 too.

00:45:00.420 --> 00:45:01.340
 That's why it is

00:45:01.340 --> 00:45:02.179
 your responsibility

00:45:02.179 --> 00:45:03.679
 as members of the church

00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:04.659
 to test everything.

00:45:05.579 --> 00:45:05.960
 And I want you

00:45:05.960 --> 00:45:07.000
 to do exactly that

00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:08.099
 with what I said

00:45:08.099 --> 00:45:08.900
 this morning,

00:45:09.019 --> 00:45:10.079
 tested by Scripture.

00:45:10.940 --> 00:45:11.860
 Does God's Word

00:45:11.860 --> 00:45:12.460
 really say

00:45:12.460 --> 00:45:13.980
 what Sean just said?

00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:15.619
 If it doesn't,

00:45:16.059 --> 00:45:16.559
 discard it.

00:45:16.579 --> 00:45:17.239
 I don't want you

00:45:17.239 --> 00:45:17.800
 to believe it.

00:45:17.800 --> 00:45:20.400
 But if it does,

00:45:21.420 --> 00:45:22.080
 believe it like

00:45:22.080 --> 00:45:23.300
 your life depends on it.

00:45:25.100 --> 00:45:25.880
 Believe it like

00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:26.780
 God, the Creator,

00:45:26.940 --> 00:45:28.320
 Himself spoke it to you.

00:45:31.920 --> 00:45:32.740
 It's to Him

00:45:32.740 --> 00:45:33.140
 we owe

00:45:33.140 --> 00:45:34.060
 our ultimate allegiance.

00:45:36.260 --> 00:45:37.420
 Please reflect on that

00:45:37.420 --> 00:45:38.140
 for a few moments,

00:45:38.660 --> 00:45:39.920
 and we'll respond

00:45:39.920 --> 00:45:41.120
 to that by praying

00:45:41.120 --> 00:45:42.160
 out loud together

00:45:42.160 --> 00:45:42.740
 as a church.

00:45:42.740 --> 00:45:42.860
 Amen.

00:45:47.800 --> 00:45:49.800
 Amen.