Sermon - Pentecost 20 - Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22
“Render to Caesar, Render to God”

Here again another confrontation with his opponents, this time through intermediates.  They come with all sorts of false flattery, “Oh, Jesus, you're so great.  We know you teach the truth, and you don't care about appearances... tell us your great wisdom”.  But really they're trying again to trap him.  Either get him to endorse the Romans, a clearly unpopular position.  Or get him to speak against Roman taxes – and give them some ammunition to use against him.  See, Pilate, Jesus forbids people to pay taxes!  Actually, that was one of the false accusations they raised against him.  But he never said that. 

Instead we get this principle, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.”  To render, that is, to hand over – to offer up – the provide – to Ceaser, and to God, respectively what each is due.  Let's consider each in turn.

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, Jesus commanded them.  Caesar, the Roman Emperor who reigned over them all.  Caesar, a godless pagan from another land far away – but who happened to have the biggest, baddest army and ruled them by force – whether they liked it or not.  And most of them did not.  Still, Jesus commands that Caesar, that wicked pagan, be given his due.  Render to Caesar what is Caesar's.

Today we have a different Caesar.  Actually, we have many caesars in our lives.  But the principle still holds. Christ's word stands forever. The names and positions change, but we still stand under earthly authorities. So how do we apply this word to ourselves, today?

Lutherans have contributed a framework of teaching which we call the Doctrine of Two Kingdoms.  By this, we mean that God rules the world, in all spheres of life, but in different ways depending on the context.  In the church, and by his Gospel, we have what we call the “Right Hand Kingdom”.  Here, he forgives sins, gives spiritual blessings, promises and the like.  Here, he rules simply by means of his word, and especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified for sinners.  The right hand kingdom isn't the church per se, but it is how God primarily operates in this context.
On the other hand, that is, the Left hand – we have another kingdom.  The Left Hand Kingdom is the kingdom of the world – or the secular arena.  Here, God is still God, though he isn't always or often recognized as such.  But in all secular authority we recognize the authority of God – working for the good of all people.  In the Left Hand kingdom, God rules by power of the sword – ultimately, for instance, if you go up against worldly authorities, you can be put to death.  If you don't pay your taxes, well, just wait and see what happens to you.  Police and Lawyers, Politicians and Officials, Bosses and even Parents – all exercise a Left Hand kingdom authority in our world.  And all of this, designed by God, for our good.

The Fourth Commandment teaches us to honor and obey these rightful authorities.  And while not without limit, for we must always obey God rather than man.  But still, this doesn't put Christians above the law, if anything, we have more reason than the heathen to follow the law, honor our leaders, and submit to authority. 

So, what do we owe to Caesar, and what do we owe to God?

Paul answers the question for us in Romans 13, springboard off of Jesus in the main New Testament passage foundational to our understanding of the Left Hand kingdom: 

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

So taxes are not theft.  I sometimes hear politically conservative Christians say such things, and it's just not scriptural.  Now, Christians are free to argue – and certainly many do – about just what is the best and most fair tax policy, and how the government ought to spend it.  But at the end of the day, we need to recognize what Scripture teaches, that the government is instituted by God for our good, and to pay our taxes, follow the rules, and honor the authorities in all ways God has placed them over us.

Likewise, we ought to pray for our president and other leaders, whether they have a D or an R behind their name.  We ought to see them even as a gift from God, a servant of the most high.  For this too, we are instructed by the inspired word of God: 

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Do you joyfully obey and honor the authorities because Jesus has told you to do so?  Do you pray for them and give thanks for them, because Scripture teaches us to do so?  Clearly when it comes to the Left Hand Kingdom, we have much to confess.  We fail in many ways – either through a rebellious spirit, or outright disobedience, or by failing to honor the gifts of authority God has given us. 

But what if that authority isn't so good?  Even an wicked authority like Caesar – Jesus still wants us to honor.  Any human authority is going to be imperfect, every office and position held by a sinner.  Yet we are no better, and the call to “render unto Caesar” convicts us all the same.

But what about “rendering unto God what is God's”?  That's the second part of Jesus' little saying here, the other side of the coin.  What does he mean “Render unto God what is God's?”  What is God's?  For starters, we might say “everything is God's”.  It all belongs to him.  Our whole lives are from him and we owe to him.  So first, perhaps, a recognition of God as Creator – who has given me my body and soul, eyes ears and all my members, my reason and all my senses. 

Render unto God what is God's must then also imply: follow his commands.  And this, far harder than following the laws of the Left Hand kingdom worldly authorities.  Here, the law leaves us no corner of escape.  Love God with ALL your heart, and your neighbor as yourself.  Render to God what is God's – how can we even begin?

It starts with repentance.  The sacrifices God desires are a broken and contrite heart.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves... but if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins.  God wants holiness, in fact he demands it.  But he also knows we fall far short of it.  And so in his mercy he provides the way of grace, the way of repentance and faith, the way of Christ.

Render unto God what is God's.  What God wills most from the sinner is not sham good works, or feeble attempts – do your best and that's good enough.  He wants repentance and faith.  We wants to give you gifts.  He wants to render unto you that which is his – his highest and his best – even his only begotten son.  Jesus, who rendered back to God a perfect life of obedience, and gives us the credit for it.  Jesus, who rendered himself as a sacrifice for all sin, and for your sin.  Jesus who rendered to God the only price dear enough to pay the debt of sin we owe.  The only sacrifice of a spotless lamb that could take away the sins of the world.

Render unto God what is God's.  Jesus did.  For you, all there is left is to believe.  This is what we owe to God – our trust and faith in him through his Son, by the power of his Holy Spirit. 

So, with his Left Hand kingdom, God rewards the good and punishes the wrongdoer.  But on the other hand, the Gospel forgives freely without respect to person.

Two kingdoms.  Two hands of God.  Both for our good.

On the one hand, God generally protects you from bodily harm due to crime and war and the evil deeds of men.  But on the other hand, he rescues you, body and soul from death, even for eternity.

On the one hand, God sends his authorities to rule over you and your neighbor to keep evil from getting too far out of hand.  But on the other hand God destroys sin, death and hell by Christ's saving work for us.

On the one hand, God works through delegated authorities to protect and punish – in accord with the natural law he's written on men's hearts.  But on the other hand, God works through delegated authorities to proclaim the revealed word of law and gospel that no man could know apart from the Spirit.

On this hand, there is the sword, coercion and force.  On the other hand, there is the gracious, loving invitation of the Gospel.  And while we can't call ourselves to faith, we are free to reject.  He doesn't force you to believe at gunpoint.  But he does call, gather and enlighten you, along with his church, to receive the blessings of Christ.

And so God works with both hands – his right and his left – all for the good of the people whom he loves.  He brings both justice and mercy, both punishments and grace, both death and life – according to the means he has appointed. 

But the best thing about the 2 – handed God, is that he's right handed!  Thanks be to God, who gives us all good things, through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Sermon - Pentecost 17 - Matthew 21:23-27

Matthew 21:23-27

“By What Authority?”

When I was a kid, and my parents told me “no”, and I asked “why?”, they'd sometimes say, “Because I said so.” I hated that. I vowed, that when I became a parent, I'd never tell my kids, “Because I said so.” Instead, I find myself saying something like, “Because I am your parent, and I have authority over you, and therefore I don't have to explain my reasons.” Which is, basically, just a longer way of saying, “Because I said so.”

Today we have another verbal sparring match between the woefully outmatched chief priests and elders and the Lord Jesus Christ. As they so often do, they challenge and question him, not to seek understanding but to try and get the best of him, to win points, to discredit him. But they never get the upper hand in this way. Jesus will not be out-foxed.

They once tried to trip him up with a question of taxes, and he cleverly answers with the quip, “Render to Caesar what is Caeser's”. They complain that his disciples don't follow their traditions and rules – ritual washing, working on the Sabbath. They even complain that Jesus was healing a man on the Sabbath. Ah, but the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Not only is he wiser and better prepared than they for such things – but he simply has the authority to teach. He didn't teach like they taught – referring to the wisdom of those rabbis who went before them. His teaching had an authority – and people knew it. Jesus says, “you've heard it said.... But I tell you....”. His authority supersedes their teaching. He has an authority that they don't.

The Jewish leaders didn't like what he was saying, and rather than challenge the content, they challenged his authority. We do this, quite often, too. “Who are you to judge me?” is the same sort of objection. Let's not talk about my sin, which I can't really defend. Instead, let's talk about whether you have the right to call out my sin. It's a not-so-subtle changing of the subject. They wouldn't have accepted his authority even if he gave them a straight answer - “Well, fellas, I'm the Son of God, after all!” They were, like all sinners, in rebellion.

We humans often have a problem with authority. And it's not just criminals who disrespect police and naughty students who make faces when the teacher turns her back to the class. We balk at any authority, almost automatically, by nature. If I say, “Don't touch this cookie” the first thing most people have the urge to do is just that. If I draw a line in the sand and say don't step over, guess what the sinner wants to do, almost compulsively? The law, expressed in authority, often draws out sin.

Authority is imposed upon us from outside, and we generally have nothing to say about it, and that doesn't always sit very well. You don't get to choose your parents. You might have a president or governor you voted against. You don't usually elect your boss at work. And so on. So too with Jesus. He's the authority on everything, whether people realize it or not, or want to admit it or not. And eventually they will – at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess...

All human authority, we learn in our study of the 4^th commandment, is a gift from God, and devolves from God. The authorities in our lives, parents, teachers, government, even pastors – all exist to bring us some good. And all authority derives from above, from the ultimate authority, God himself. As Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no authority over me unless it was given you from above”.

And so any discussion of authority, for the Christian, will call us to examine our own sinful rebellion. And it ought to also point us to the blessings of authority that God gives, especially in Christ.

Jesus didn't answer their question, for they asked from rebellion. But we who are in Christ could ask the same question in faith, “By what authority do you do these things, Jesus?” And the answer may come several ways.

He is the authority because he is the author of creation.

He is the authority because all authority has been given to him.

He has the authority – but he uses that authority for us. Chiefly, to forgive sins.

You might not think of Jesus, the Son of God, when you think of Creation. We usually ascribe that work to God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. But John's Gospel has a Genesis account of its own – an, “in the beginning” - in which we see the Living Word that was with God and was God – that living word which eventually became flesh and dwelled among us. John tells us that “through him” (that is the Word) all things were made. That is to say, through the Son of God. So while it is proper to call the Father the creator – the one who speaks the words of creation, “let there be light” (etc.). We could rightly call God the Son the Agent of Creation. By whom all things were made.

Paul tells us Christ also sustains creation by his authority, that in him “all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). And in Hebrews it is likewise taught that God upholds all things by his powerful word (Heb. 1:3).

And so, like the Father, this gives him the authority over his creation. He's the author, after all, with an intimate hand in the creation of light and land and sun and moon and plant and animal and you and me. We belong to him because he made us, and he sustains us each day. We answer to him, Jesus, because he is, after all, God.

But he would not always use this divine authority, at least not fully. For a time, he set it aside, mostly. He humbled himself. He became submissive, obedient, to all the changes and chances of a life lived in human flesh. He would hunger and thirst, sweat and weep, grow weary but have no place to lay his head. He had to learn and grow. He submitted to his earthly parents, teachers and authorities. He was, Scripture teaches, like us in every way – yet without sin. And while in his public ministry he would show glimpses and flashes of divinity behind the fleshly veil of his human nature, - and the demons certainly recognized his authority – yet for the most part, he set that rightful authority aside, and became obedient, even unto death – even death on a cross.

For you, of course. And God raised him from the dead, also for you. Now his exaltation would begin. A risen Jesus would appear and disappear at will. He was recognized or not recognized as he so pleased. He would give many convincing proofs that he was alive, and finally after 40 days, ascend bodily into heaven, there to re-take his rightful throne, his due honor, his place at the right hand of God – from which he will return to judge the living and the dead.

He has ultimate authority by rights, as the Son of God. But more than that, because of his obedience unto death – all authority in heaven and on earth is given to him.

This is great, good news for you, Christian! You have an advocate, a true friend, a compassionate intercessor in Jesus – seated at God's right hand. You have a brother and a king with all the authority there ever was – and who's looking out for you. He doesn't receive all authority for his own sake, for his own pleasure or benefit. Like all things Jesus does, he does for you. He exercises his authority for the church in general, and for you in particular – a member of his body.

And so our very life is in his charge, and his care. Not a hair on our head isn't numbered. He works in all the events of our lives, even the sorrows, especially the sorrows, to bring about his good purposes. He promises nothing can separate you from the Father when you remain in his love. He promises you a place with the Father in the mansions of heaven. He'll show his authority, one day, over death itself when at the trumpet call of God and the shout of the archangel – he will command your grave to open and you will rise in your flesh, and stand upon the earth, and see him face to face. Only he has the authority to do it. Only in Jesus do we have such a promise.

But the best, the greatest, the most important aspect of Jesus' authority is perhaps this: that he has the authority to forgive sins. For all these other blessings of life, salvation, reconciliation and even faith itself – flow from the chief blessing of forgiveness.

He has that authority. He proved that when he healed the paralytic. First, he forgave the man's sins. But when the Jews balked, and said, “who can forgive sins but God alone?”, Jesus proved his authority. “Which is easier to say, 'your sins are forgiven'? Or 'get up and walk?'” But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins... and then he healed him.

He has also forgiven you. He won it at the cross, and he applies it at the font and altar, and in the absolution. He gives that blessed authority to his apostles, and to their successors, his pastors – the authority to forgive sins in his stead and by his command. And so it is today, that your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

By whose authority do you do these things, Jesus? By the authority that sent John the Baptist – by the authority from heaven – the authority that created all things by the word – the authority that promised salvation to a fallen creation – that worked out that salvation through patriarchs and prophets, and the rise and fall of nations, until in a little town of Bethlehem the Author condescended, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him. All the authority to create, sustain, and forgive – and he exercises that authority. For you. Your sins are forgiven. Because he said so. In Jesus' Name, Amen.