RENDERING TO CAESAR

LUKE 20:20–26

He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”

(Luke 20:25b).

After Jesus’ prediction that the priests and teachers of the Law would kill Him causing God’s wrath to be poured out on them, the officials were so infuriated that they wanted Him arrested immediately. Only because they were afraid of the crowd did they hold back. They, instead, sent secret agents into the crowd who pretended to be interested in Jesus, but who were trying to trap Him into making a mistake (Luke 20:19–20).

One of the questions these spies asked Him was whether or not it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. They figured this would be a good question to use to discredit Jesus. Because the crowd hated the Romans and was looking to Jesus as a political king, they would want Him to attack the Roman tax system. If Jesus failed to attack the Roman taxes, the crowd would turn against Him. If, however, Jesus did attack the Romans, then they could have Him arrested. Later in the week, one of the official (and false) charges levelled against Jesus was that He had advocated tax resistance (Luke 23:2).

Not only did the Roman coins represent the fact that Rome ruled the Jews, they were offensive in other ways as well. The Jews had interpreted the second commandment to mean that no images of any human kind should be made. Thus the face of Caesar on the coin was offensive to them. Additionally, these coins proclaimed “Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus,” and thus were constant reminders of the idolatry and blasphemy of the Romans.

Jesus replied to the question that we are to render to Caesar those things that are Caesar’s. In God’s providence. Caesar rules and provides law and order. Thus, we are to pay Caesar’s tax. At the same time, worship is not appropriate to Caesar—only to God is worship appropriate. Jesus’ answer made it plain that worship, not politics, is the ultimate issue.

CORAM DEO

Jeremiah 29–30

Titus 1

Our taxes are high today in part because the civil government is doing what the church should be doing. If Christians tithe faithfully, what things might change? Where has the church allowed “Caesar” to usurp her opportunities and responsibilities to serve the needs of society?

For further study: Titus 3:1–11; tape #B57INT.82/83

TABLETALK

from ligonier ministries and teaching and encouraging believers • november 1990

ENCOUNTERING THE HOLINESS OF GOD

Daily Studies From The Teaching Fellowship Of R. C. Sproul

publisher Ligonier Ministries editor Robert F. Ingram assistant editor Michael S. Beates art director David K. Freeland

marketing Gretchen L. Suskovic production Felicia T. Calhoun, W. David Fox, Melissa A. Prichard, R. C. Sproul, Jr.

writer Sharon J. Anderson circulation Gwen Weber board of directors Bruce Fogerty, Robert Fraley, G. Richard Hostetter, Robert C. Legler, Stephen H. Levée, Jr., C. G. Mills, Archie B. Parrish, James M. Seneff, Jr., R. C. Sproul, John Thompson, Ralph D. Veerman, Luder Whitlock, Charles Colson (Director Emeritus)

Published by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Inc. under license granted by Ligonier Ministries, Inc. Copyright 1990, Ligonier Ministries, Inc. This Bible study is based upon teaching material by Dr. R. C. Sproul. Unless noted, all Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.

member evangelical press association

WINNER OF EPA’S 1989 HIGHER GOALS AWARD FOR BEST REDESIGN OF A CHRISTIAN PUBLICATION

Cover: Gothic architecture dramatizing the beauty of holiness. Scala/Art Resource, N.Y.

robert ingram • editor

Coram Deo

By the sheer splendor of their beauty some church sanctuaries evoke a sense of worship. Upon entering such sanctuaries one encounters a transcendent quality; something not of this world is captured in the aesthetics of the building. They are reminiscent of what the Old Testament temple must have been like, displaying the beauty of holiness in time and space.

I have been privileged to visit many such sanctuaries in Europe and the United States. One in particular stands out in my memory. It was a reconstructed cathedral on the island of lona, off the west coast of Scotland, the place in which Christianity was first introduced to Scotland. A Christian monastic community still exists there today. The heightened sense of the presence of a holy God in the midst of His people in that place created a lasting impression. Out of that experience was born a renewed zeal for the faith and desire to live a more holy life.

I do not suggest that my experience should be normative for all believers. But I continue to discover that in addition to the knowledge of the Holy One, my spirit longs for a sanctuary whose architectural beauty compels me to gaze heavenward. Other worship components of music, preaching, and the sacraments cannot be ignored; but for me, an evidently “holy place” stirs my heart to more artful praise.

Lately this has taken on almost quest proportions for me. My goal however, is not merely a beautiful sanctuary; it is an encounter with the holiness of God and the ensuing desire to live a holy life. Coram Deo means the desire to live one’s life before the face of God: in His presence, under His authority, and to His glory. This concept ought to be normative for all believers. For this reason we highlight it regularly in Tabletalk.

This issue of Tabletalk focuses upon holiness and, in particular, R. C.’s ministry passion to heighten each believer’s awareness of this attribute of God. Our prayer is that learning more about His holiness, your heart will become a sanctuary where God lives and reigns. ■

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