Matthew 22 (NRSVue)
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.
16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying,
“Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality.
17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,
“Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the coin used for the tax.”
And they brought him a denarius.
20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?”
21 They answered, “Caesar’s.”
Then he said to them,
“Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.
The way of Jesus demands that we determine jurisdiction by design.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. The sermon says, “The most valuable asset in the Kingdom of Heaven is that which has been stamped with the image of God.” How might recognizing the image of God in ourselves and our neighbors change the way we use our power, spend our money, and work toward the peace of God?
2. Jesus responds to a yes-or-no question by holding a mirror up to his neighbors, challenging them to consider whose image shapes their lives. What are some ways we become ensnared by the world around us, and how can we navigate those systems while remaining faithful to the way of Jesus?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Pastor Trey uses the phrase, “[...] wears divinity loosely in order to share it with us.” Consider along with the words of Jesus when the woman went to touch the hem of His garment. (Matthew 9:20-22) What image does that phrase evoke for you?
2. Centuries after the gospels were first shared, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King found himself a guest of the state. In calling for civil disobedience, peaceful yes but still disobedience, to the state he was seeking justice. What does the quote that follows say to us about conformity to the state? “Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists.” (Letter from a Birmingham Jail)
3. Jesus says that, “Narrow is the way.” We are told that it’s not an easy path to follow, but what difference or distinction can be drawn from a path that’s difficult to follow but still very clearly easy to see?
4. Who or what has the greatest influence over how I use my resources, exercise my power, and make decisions? Where might I be prioritizing the values of the world over the values of the Kingdom of God?
5. The sermon reminds us that “It is always lawful to do good.” Where might God be calling me to move beyond simply navigating the systems around me toward actively embodying love, justice, and peace within them?
For further contemplation, consider this prompt:
Reflect on what it means to be stamped with the image of God. Consider the image of Christ sharing divinity with us, the call to resist conformity when it conflicts with justice, and the challenge of following the narrow way. How might these ideas shape the way you live in the world, use the resources and power available to you, and love your neighbors? Identify one concrete way you can participate in God’s economy of love this week.