Today’s passage reminded me of one of the main ideas we recently discussed in our Estuary study: Everything is His. The background is that the religious leaders are trying to get rid of Jesus because his teaching has critiqued their views of religion. In this passage, they try to get Jesus to pit God against Rome, so they would have grounds to arrest him.

But the religious leaders have forgotten that:

1) Everything belongs to God.

2) We are citizens of two countries, our earthly land and our Father’s heavenly kingdom.

3) Our loyalties are not primarily where we pay taxes, but where our hearts belong-- with the Lord.

Like the religious leaders, how often are we more focused on finding an excuse to not obey Jesus! Or how often are we living forgetting that we belong to God? And if we belong to God, how much more of ourselves we should give to Him than we give to anything else.

[Luke 20.19-26]

19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What motivates the scribes to test Jesus in this way? What do they want to do to Jesus? [ vv. 19-20]

+ What are the scribes really asking? What is the dilemma they hope Jesus will get caught in? [vv. 21-22]

+ How does Jesus avoid their trap? [vv. 23-6]

+ What does Jesus mean when he says give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s? What things would be included? [v. 25]

+ What does Jesus mean when he says give to God the things that are God’s? What things would be included? [v. 25]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How am I doing giving God what belongs to God and giving earthly kingdoms what belongs to them?

+ Have I given more to Caesar (hope for change, loyalty to parties or political ideas) than I ought?

+ Alternatively, have I forgotten my belonging to an earthly kingdom (removed myself from caring for my nation, not stood up for my neighbor, etc.) as a child of God?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?