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INJ
Matthew 22:15-22 | Philippians 3:17-21
'Like Unto His Glorious Body'
Morning Service
23rd Sunday after the Feast of Trinity | November 12, 2006
Dear Saints,
The texts this morning are about citizenship: both the Gospel, where the Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking about taxes, and the Epistle, where St Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” [Philippians 3:20]
So, where is our citizenship? This is the question that the Pharisees used to try and trap Jesus. The Pharisees come with some Herodians to ask Jesus if it is lawful to pay taxes, and they think they've got Him.
Jerusalem and all of Palestine was part of the Roman Empire, and while Rome did allow Jerusalem a few privileges, they were subject to Caesar. And Caesar, of course, wanted taxes, and he would get his taxes, even if he had to wield the sword to do it. There were those Jews who openly supported the Romans. They were called “Herodians,” and were considered by many to be traitors who lacked commitment to God and His people Israel.
Most of the Jews were in silent rebellion against the Caesar, and though they would pay their taxes, they were looking and waiting for the Messiah who would throw off the Roman oppression, drive out the armies, and set up an earthly kingdom that no one could overrun.
This is why the Pharisees think that they have Jesus pinned down. “Should we pay taxes to Caesar?” If Jesus says “no” then the Herodians will certainly report Him to the authorities as a rebel, in sighting insurrection, and Jesus would be locked up or put to death. On the other hand, if Jesus says “yes, pay your taxes to Caesar,” then He is, in the Pharisees' eyes admitting that He is not the Messiah, that He, like the Herodians, was a traitor to Israel and to God.
But Jesus, in His simplicity, cannot be trapped or ensnared. He asks for a coin and asks, “Whose image and inscription is this?” The denarius had a picture of Caesar on it. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” [Matthew 22:21]
And with this the text says: “When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.” [22:22] They left because they were disappointed, because their trap had failed, instead of inditing Himself Jesus had shown forth their own hypocrisy. They left because they had no need for Jesus' teaching, but not us, dear saints.
Let us linger here a bit on Jesus' words, for He is answering our question: where is our citizenship? And the answer, it seems, is two-fold, that we have a dual citizenship, in the kingdom of Caesar and in the kingdom of God. We render in two directions, to Caesar and to God. We give Caesar the things He asks for, we are to pay our taxes, we are to keep the law, and (in all but the rarest circumstances) we go to war when we are called, drafted and the like. In fact yesterday was Veteran's Day, a day set apart to remember the faithful service, sometimes even unto death, that our service men and women have rendered unto Caesar, have given in service to our country. This is what it means to be a citizen of a government of this world.
And there are certain things that we then expect from our government: protection (both from enemies without and within), an enforcement of the law, and justice. But often (not always) our expectations are disappointed, peace does not reign, justice is a mockery, and those who most need protection, even unborn children in their mother's womb, are not protected and defended.
So Caesar disappoints us. That's why the church sings, “Trust not in princes, they are but mortal, earth-born they are, and soon decay.” [Praise the Almighty, My Soul Adore Him. TLH 26.2] That line reflects Psalm 146[:3], “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.”
It is wonderful to live in a country where we are free to worship and call upon God's name, where there is order and much peace and outward prosperity, where relatively few are hungry or cold. And yet we do not put our trust in princes, in earthly authorities, for when it time for the grave to claim us, they are of no help.
But rejoice, for we are citizens of another kingdom, an entirely different sort of kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ. His kingdom is not of this world. His government is not about keeping the law, but distributing the Gospel. His kingdom is not about ruling with power, but is about weakness and suffering. He rules not from a throne but from His cross, He is crowned with thorns.
This is His “My kingdom is not of this world” kingdom, His church, those set free by the Son, set free by His death, redeemed, not with gold and silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, so that we are His own, and we live under Him in His kingdom, and we serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. We render unto God the things that are God's, that is we fear, love and trust Him above all things, and He accounts or trust as prefect righteousness.
His kingdom is the church, and here everything is free. It is a kingdom ruled (if you can use that word) by the Gospel, not the law. There is no “church tax” or “membership fees,” nothing coerced or squeezed from us, but all is given freely and with joy. There is no “draft” in the church, no compulsory service, His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and all sin is forgiven.
And what to we look for and expect from this kingdom? St Paul tells us in the Epistle reading: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” [Philippians 3:20-21]
This is the glorious expectation of the children of God, of the citizens of heaven. For while the kingdoms of this earth are able to protect us a little from danger, and sickness and death, their protection will ultimately fail. But the kingdom of heaven stands secure, forever. From there comes Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior. In His death He overcame death and the grave; in His being conquered He has conquered and triumphed over all of our enemies, and He has not just done this for Himself, but for us. He is simply the first-fruits of the resurrection, we are sure to follow.
Citizens of heaven, this is your hope, for all things in this world will decay, grow old, and die, including our own bodies. But Jesus will call us out of the grave and transform our lowly body that it may be like unto His glorious body.
Then we will no longer say, “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” for we will have what we now longer for, we will have the glory of the resurrection and we will know the tremendous bliss of everlasting life, ever standing before the face of Him who loves us and give Himself up for us.
And so, dear saints, dear citizens of heaven, rejoice, for your Jesus is coming soon, and the gifts that He will bring for all who trust in His promises are beyond our imagining. We will be fashioned like unto Him, and we will share in His glory. All tears and sorrow and sickness and death will be wiped away, and we will be with the Lord forever.
May God, for the sake of His Son our Lord Jesus, grant it to be so for us. Amen.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Hope Lutheran Church | Aurora, CO
