Scripture/Sermon of the Day

15 Then the Pharisees left that place and made plans to trap Jesus in saying something wrong. 16 They sent some of their own followers and some people from the group called Herodians. They said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man and that you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what other people think about you, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 But knowing that these leaders were trying to trick him, Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me a coin used for paying the tax.” So the men showed him a coin. 20 Then Jesus asked, “Whose image and name are on the coin?”

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.”

they walked away from Jesus scratching their heads, wondering, “What belongs to Caesar? And what belongs to God?”

II. This is one of those passages that bothers a lot of people — people who tell me to keep politics out of my sermons! They say — “Stop mixing politics with religion! Jesus is spiritual! -- Like God and angels and heaven! “Keep it spiritual!” people say!

III. So we need to talk about this because there’s a lot of misunderstanding. Especially, I realize at this late date in October — many of the leaves have fallen, in a few weeks trees will be bare — it will look like winter — and many of us will be sitting with our families for Thanksgiving and those necessary but often dreadful conversations that happen when you throw a crowd of people together who aside from their DNA have little in common.

One of the goals of holiday conversations is to keep the words flowing but limit the subject matter to things “nice” and shallow and mind-numbing. Which means — and here it is — THE ONE ALMOST-UNIVERSALLY-ACCEPTED RULE regarding holiday conversations — DON’T TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND RELIGION. In fact — don’t even talk about that in church. KEEP THINGS SPIRITUAL AND BLAND AND — SAFE!!!!!

IV. The problem is — THE BIBLE IS A POLITICAL BOOK!!!! I need to say that again: THE BIBLE IS A POLITICAL BOOK.

Politics is defined as: “the activities associated with the GOVERNANCE of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve POWER.”

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS are from God. They were given to the people to GOVERN how they would live — rules to follow in their interactions with one another. They told people WHO HAS THE POWER — GOD. The 10 Commandments are about governance and power — THEY ARE A POLITICAL DOCUMENT. Coming from God, they are religious. So we can’t separate politics and religion — each is about how we live (governance) and who has the power.

V. Every conflict, every argument, every war, every teaching in the Bible is political. The issue is — who has the power, and how must we be governed — how must we live? IT’S ALL POLITICS.

And look how Jesus brought opposing groups together! In today’s reading we see two political parties who hated each other — and Jesus united them! The Herodians were a SECULAR (non-religious) party who supported the royal family of King Herod — who were pro-Roman.

The Pharisees were the RELIGIOUS party — who were were pro-Temple, and accepted Roman rule as long as it didn’t interfere with their religious practices. The two parties — the Pharisees and Herodians — were like Democrats and Republicans in America today but UNITED in their hatred of Jesus.

VI. They asked Jesus: “Should we pay takes to Rome?”Jesus said: “Yes! And give God everything.”

VII. My suggestion for Thanksgiving conversation this year is to have everyone discuss: What belongs to Caesar, and what belongs to God?

3. Love each person if you agree with them or not. Because we follow Jesus, whose politics were love.