CaryCOG | Cary Church of God
Pastor Patrick Jensen brings us today's message: "Render to Caesar & to God"
Matthew 22:15-22 NKJV
Introduction:
- Matthew, whose name means “gift of Jehovah,” left his occupation of gathering taxes to follow Jesus.
- He gave a banquet for Jesus before becoming one of the 12 Apostles, and was an eye witness of the acts and ministry of Jesus.
- Matthew cites the O.T. more frequently than the other gospels, suggesting that he was writing to a Jewish audience convincing them of Jesus as Messiah.
- The theme of Matthew can be summed up with the following statement, "Jesus is the King, the Messiah, and the One who will usher in the long awaited kingdom of God."
- This brings us to today's message from of Matthew 22:
I. We Render to Caesar Discerning Speech; We Render to God Patience to Receive the Speech.
Matthew 22:15-17
Quote:
I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.
Martin Luther
Quote:
You will always find the divine where you find the hatred of the world most united and concentrated.
Fulton Sheen
II. We Render to Caesar his Image; We Render to God HIS Image.
Matthew 22:18-21
Quote:
The outer man is subject to the government, and the inner man is subject to God.
Fulton Sheen
Quote:
Search for that image in the mire of your lives, wash it with your tears, and burnish it back to brightness with your penance, and you will find on it the image of Him who made you, and the superscription of His immortal Kingdom.
Fulton Sheen
III. When We Render to Caesar and to God, the Result is the Expulsion of Wickedness.
Matthew 22:22