The
Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
The
Collect.
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God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be
ready we beseech thee to hear
the devout prayers of they Church; and grant that those things which we ask
faithfully we may obtain; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The
Epistle
Philippians 3: 17-21
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rethren, be followers together of me, and mark them
which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the
cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose
glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our citizenship is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who
shall change the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed unto the body
of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all
things unto himself.
The Gospel. St. Matthew xxii. 15
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hen went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they
might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with
the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way
of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the
person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give
tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money.
And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto
him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore
unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are
God’s. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him,
and went their way.
The Collect
prays that we ask out of faith that such petitions might be granted. But is it
possible to ask out of greed or jealousy as did the Pharisees and Herodians in
our Gospel today. Whether they knew it or not, their prayers of deception
were made to God (God the Son). The Herodians were those who supported the
Roman puppet king, Herod. But the Pharisees were vehemently opposed to Roman
rule. How could these two be allied against Christ. I believe it is because
both considered Christ a greater threat to the Roman rule (Herodians), or the religious
life (Pharisees) of Israel. Both wanted, above all else to preserve their power
over the people. But Christ came as the great Liberator. This, they could not
bear - and neither can the larger religious institutions, or governmental
powers, tolerate Christ today.
As our
Epistle so well points out, we have our citizenship in heaven, not in the dirty
and political premises of this world. Our motives should never be centered on
material prosperity, but spiritual enlightenment.
We read how
those wicked men of the Pharisees conspire with their mortal enemies, the
Herodians, to entangle Christ in His words and ministry.
Strange how
enemies can unite against One they consider of greater threat. They fear that
One who speaks truth cannot be bested by those whose works are fleshly.
They
fear their little positions of authority and seek to murder Him to whom ALL
truth and authority belongs.
It is a deaf EAR
they turn to the Gospel of Christ. They only seek something of which to charge
Him or of which to complain. They have witnessed more of His miracles of
healing, restoration to life, and acts of mercy than most of His own disciples,
yet, they fail to believe – WHY?
It is because
they refuse to believe!
Such
contentious ones have not the Mind and love of Christ in their hearts.
True love and
mercy are not divisible. That Love of Christ which we have received is
authenticated by that same love and compassion we show to one another.
Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5)
Where the
love of Christ is, there can be no division. Christ is not divided against
Himself! His Mind is also constant – the same yesterday, today, and forever.
They
cunningly say to Jesus: Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest
the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest
not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful
to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Like good
politicians, these men will use deception, or even flattery, to ensnare a
good man.
We pay
tribute today in the form of taxes. Taxes are essential to provide those
limited government services necessary to ensure defense, order and a suitable
environment for trade. It is something we owe Caesar if we are to live
within the borders of his dominion.
If Christ
insists that we pay tribute to Caesar, He will have lost the support of the
people. But if He says that we should NOT, He incurs the wrath of Rome.
So how does
Christ respond to these scoundrels?
But
Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why
tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Christ never
hesitated to call a spade a spade.
He was not
very politically correct was He?
He then says:
19 Shew me the tribute money.
And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? In Rome, Caesar money, inscribed with his image,
was the coin of the realm. But are we not citizens of another kingdom.? Do we
not bear a dual citizenship? Though we must remain IN the world, we are not to
be part and party to it.
Ships are
wonderful vessels constructed for the purpose of bearing great burdens of
merchandise across the sea. They are, in fact, made to be in the sea. As long
as they travel in the sea, all is well. But when the sea gets into the ship,
tragedy stands at the door. Ships are like the church. The Church is made to
season the world and to be a sweet savor to it; but when the world gets into
the Church, it will lose its savor.
21 They
say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things
that are God's.
The image and
superscription of God: The Christian disciple is as silver, purified seven
times by the Refiner. He assume the image and likeness of His Lord. The silver
coin, once tamped by the authority of government, assumes the value that the
authority assigns by his stamp. So, too, does the Christian assume the
authority to teach the Word to all who will listen. The authoirity does not
reside in the coin, or in the disciple, but the authorizing power.
American
coinage is the only in the world that has consistently appealed to the trust of
God in its mintage. In God We Trust! In America, we the people
are Caesar.
We set our
rulers up, and we take them down by our exercise of the franchise. We can blame
no one for the ungodliness of our rulers…. but ourselves. We will always get
precisely the kind of ruler we deserve!
22 When
they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way The Words of God confuse the learned and the
deceitful. In His mouth there is no deceit nor shadow of turning.
Are we
citizens of God’s Kingdom?
Are we
stamped with His image of ownership and authority?
What must we
render unto God to receive that title of coinage of the realm? All of our
selves – our being and our daily currency should reflect His Image just as the
coin of the nation represents the image and authority of that nation.
When men know
you, may they also know Christ through you. I pray that the stamp of Christ is
apparent upon all who are within range of my voice today.
