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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 133 : Render to Caesar

Text: Matthew 22
27 October 2024

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 27 OCTOBER 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 22

Topic: “Render to Caesar”

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.
16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

Matthew 22:15-22

THE PLOT OF THE PHARISEES

1. They were supposed to be religious custodians

2. They turned out to be cunning and corrupt

3. They came together

4. They hatched a plan to entrap the Lord Jesus

PAYING OF TAXES

1. Taxes were laid on all countries conquered by the Romans

2. The Jews did not like to pay taxes to Rome

3. They raised a subtle question to the Lord Jesus

16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Matthew 22:16-17

4. Possible answers

a) If the Lord Jesus supported paying taxes, He would be disliked
b) If the Lord did not support paying of taxes, He could be reported to the Roman Governor

THE BRILLIANT ANSWER OF THE LORD JESUS

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:18-21

1. The Lord saw their heart

a) They were hypocrites
b) They were wicked
c) He saw through them

2. His reply

a) Render to Caesar that which belongs to him
b) Render to God that which belongs to Him

THE RESPONSE OF THE PHARISEES

1. They marvelled

2. They had no response

3. They walked away

LESSONS FOR US TO LEARN

1. Never have a wicked and hypocritical heart

2. Render to Caesar

Do what we need as good citizens

3. Render to God

Do what we should as children of God