Pay Caesar what you owe Caesar

Sermon on Matthew 22:15-22
Monday of the 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Our Hope Lutheran Church
October 18th, 2020

Text: “Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you trying to trick me, Actors? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore pay Caesar what you owe Caesar, and God what you owe God”

Intro: The year Isaac Watts wrote “Our God, our Help in Ages Past,” Queen Anne was dying. Her reign was an age of religious peace and tolerance. Watts was a dissenting protestant and before Queen Anne, his church was persecuted by the crown. The leading heir to the crown was Catholic, and many worried about a return of persecution. The fear was relieved when the Lutheran George I was crowned. The hymn reminded them—and us — that God is in charge of the world and our eternal home. On Tuesday of the first Holy Week, the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus into a sound bite that would undo him. That day they tried politics. It didn’t work.

1. God appoints earthly governments—even the bad ones.
   1. Earthly governments maintain order and restrain evil.
   2. We owe them honor, obedience in earthly matters, prayers for their well-being and wisdom.
   3. When governments call on us to sin, only then may we disobey.
   4. When, as in a democracy, we are a part of the government; we are called by God to steer it towards the purposes for which it is ordained.
2. Yet obedience does not come easily to sinners.
   1. We cherish our freedom, and no one can tell us what to do.
   2. Government is made up by sinners, who often serve themselves more than God or the people.
   3. Even when they mean well, they often make things worse.
   4. We are tempted, then, to take things into our own hands.
3. God is our Eternal Home
   1. Yet Jesus reigns and will return to judge the world.
   2. He left his throne to die for our rebellion.
   3. He rose to open the grave to all believers.
   4. He has adopted us in Holy Baptism.
   5. We are now citizens of a heavenly kingdom.

Conclusion: So, we gladly serve our Lord, by supporting the government he’s given us, exercising our office of Elector of the Republic for his sake, but seeking first his kingdom, knowing all too soon we will go home where we truly belong.

Prayer: Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home; Be thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home. Amen.

Rev. Robert E. Smith
Pastor Emeritus
Fort Wayne, Indiana

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