Daily Devotion in Luke 20

Luke Header from a 1611 KJV

Daily Nugget:
“Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. 25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.” Luke 20:24-25

Among Christians, there is often the question, “Should we support the government by paying taxes?” Here in Luke is the answer from Christ. His example showed us, “Yes, we should pay taxes.”

Knowing that the religious “powers” of His time were trying to trap Him, Jesus answered those questioning Him wisely. Christ knew they wanted Him to answer that it was wrong to pay taxes to the Romans so they could turn Him in and let the government get rid of Him. His answer surprised and quieted them. He told them they should pay their taxes.

Some Christians today make the stand that they will not pay their taxes, support their government, or even have any part in defending their country. Their defense is often, “The government today is doing wrong things. I will not help them do wrong with my money. I will not give them my money so they can abort babies, encourage homosexual activity, and do other things that I know are against what God wants us to do.”

No, God does not want anyone to purposely and directly support the murder of babies, homosexuality, or any other activity that God forbids explicitly.  However, He wants us to support and help our government obey more of His commandments.

Jesus paid His taxes (Matthew 17:24-27) and knew what the government did with His tax money. It may have been His money that paid the soldiers’ salaries that nailed Him to the cross. Christ knew what would happen to Him in the future and who would have a part in His death. Still, He paid His taxes. Jesus also knew that it would be the same Roman government that would extend their rage against Christians and have them burned to death, thrown to lions, and tortured in unthinkable ways, yet He still paid His taxes.

“Why,” ponder many, “would the all-knowing Saviour support such a thing?” Because He knew His Father ordained government and that He and we should support it and try to improve it. Yes, there will always be corrupt people in government. These people use their power to meet their own selfish goals. Nevertheless, the government has a necessary God-given role in the lives of its people. It should be to reward good and punish evil.

It is the government that should arrest those who do wrong. It should be the government that legislates righteousness and protects its people from those trying to take away what God has allowed them to have.

Immediately, most respond, “Well, that is not happening today.” The government certainly is not enforcing righteousness, and they are even perverting what is right. However, they should encourage and legislate what is right.  That is where a Christian’s intervention in speaking up and standing for righteousness should alter it and help it be more God-fearing and abiding. We should be the light and salt to help our environment be more God-fearing and God-obeying! Our support, intervention, and stand should help the government be what God intends it to be.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” Romans 13:1-7

Today’s Thought: 
“When God wants to judge a nation, He often gives them wicked rulers.”   — John Calvin

Words to Understand:
Feign: to pretend; make believe; to deceive
Husbandmen: workers that tended to vineyards and other agricultural enterprises
Render: to give
Resurrection: raised from the dead
Superscription: small print

Today’s Reading:
Luke 20
1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
9 ¶ Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
20 ¶ And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
27 ¶ Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
32 Last of all the woman died also.
33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
39 ¶ Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.