Ready to ponder a taxing question?

(88) A Taxing Question

Jesus has thrown down the gauntlet in Jerusalem. The leaders know they won’t be able to persuade him to join their gang. So now they have to make sure he doesn’t threaten their position. And the best defense, of course, if offense. Can they make Jesus break the Roman law? Or God’s law even? Can they make him lose the people’s favor? Surely something will work. Read Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26.

1.       Read Matthew 22:15. Do we meet leaders who try to “entangle” or “trap” the opposition? Should they?

2.       Read Matthew 22:16. Pharisees and Herodians working together? What’s odd about this?

a.      Do our leaders (political or spiritual) make strange alliances? Should they?

b.      Do our leaders flatter the opposition? Should they?

c.       Do they flatter us, and how susceptible are we to flattery?

3.       Read Matthew 22:17. Do our leaders like to phrase things this way—one thing or another and no options in between? Should they?

a.      Is that a good way to speak about faith? About social issues? About politics?

4.       Can you imagine the headlines: in the Jewish news, the Pharisees will print “Jesus betrays God” if Jesus agrees with paying taxes to a foreign power; and in the state-sponsored paper, Herodians will print “Jesus opposes Roman rule,” if he says no to taxes.

a.      What’s wrong with headlines? And sound-bites?

b.      How can we protect ourselves from being swayed this way?

5.       Read Matthew 22:18. What is a hypocrite? How were they hypocrites in this instance?

a.      How can we protect ourselves from becoming hypocrites?

6.       Read Matthew 22:19-21. Bearing in mind that some of those taxes went to paying the soldiers who would crucify Jesus… what does this tell us about paying our taxes?

a.      Should we pay taxes even when we don’t like the government?

b.      Even when we think the government might use the money to break God’s law?

c.       Even when the government might use the money to oppose our faith?

7.       How do we “Render to God the things that are God’s”?

a.      What things do we give to God? And how do we give to God, when He’s given us everything?

b.      What did they give to God?

c.       Would Jesus be given to God on the cross?

d.      How is Jesus the perfect sacrifice for you?

8.       Read Matthew 22:22. Their attitude in asking the question was wrong. What about their response to Jesus’ answer? Why are they astonished?

a.      Why do they go away? Was that wrong of them, or might they just have left to think about things?

b.      Have you ever been astonished at something you learned in the Bible?

c.       How do you react when God astonishes you with his Word? (Or with His creation?)

d.      Would you rather jump up and tell everyone, or go away and think (pray) about what you’ve learned?