Post Communion Sentence

Father of light, in whom is no change or shadow of turning, you give us every good and perfect gift and have brought us to birth by your word of truth: may we be a living sign of that kingdom where your whole creation will be made perfect in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Commentary

The Romans were an occupying force, they had marched their army into Israel and they had taken over. Then they demanded money to sustain their occupation. If you and I were living there at that time, the chances are that we would have greatly resented the Romans and their tax. The tax was not an option. It was mandatory, if you did not pay taxes to Rome then you could be killed. Moreover whilst Jews did not place images of people on their coins, Caesar had placed his image on the coins. Around the picture of the emperor’s head were inscribed the words 'Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, and on the other side 'pontifex maximus' which would be understood as 'High Priest.' Paying the tax was a very tangible acknowledgement of submission to Rome, it was also a religious insult, because the coin was blasphemous.

Jesus is approached by two groups who have made a pact to try and trap him. They ask him whether it is right to pay taxes to Caesar. One group was the Herodians, who supported the family of Herod and who had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and peace. They were what we would think of as collaborators. The other group were disciples of the Pharisees, they were nationalistic Jews. They had not got a great in common but Jesus was the enemy of both and a common enemy makes strange bedfellows. and so they make a pact to trap Jesus. Jesus was in a pickle, if he suggested paying the tax, he would have alienated the devout religious Jew. If, on the other hand, he advocated that they not pay the tax, the Romans would have sprung on him for treason and for stirring up insurrection.
 

Jesus responds by asking, "Whose head (Greek: eikon -- icon -- image) is this, and whose title?" The coin, of course, bears Caesar's eikon and belongs to Caesar. The Pharisees' disciples answer, "Caesar's. " Their reply half answers their question: they possess in this coin the possession of another. Is it wrong to return property to its owner?"
 

The coin is an instrument of Caesar's government -- under Caesar's control -- its value established by Caesar. It is available for their use only because Caesar has ordered the mint to strike it and the treasury to disburse it. It is an integral part of Caesar's realm.
So Jesus says, ‘Give back therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's."
But there is a sting in the tail, ‘..and give back to God the things that are God's’
 

We are all made in the image of God -- we bear God's image -- and so it is appropriate to give ourselves back to God -- all that we have and all that we are -- because we were created by the Word of God and are an integral part of God's realm.
Jesus acknowledges our obligation as citizens to the state, but affirms our larger obligation as human beings to God. Coins bearing Caesar's image may belong to Caesar, but all things (coins, Caesar, Rome, the planet earth, the universe) come from God and are under God's dominion. Caesar's realm is but a speck within God's realm. The days of Caesar's realm are numbered, but God's realm is eternal. Charles Royden


 

Meditation

 Ramadan - Understanding other faiths
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on the sighting of the new moon, 4 Oct 2005. During the 29/30 days of Ramadan all adult Muslims must give up food, drink, smoking and sexual activity during the hours of daylight. Sawm (fasting) is the fourth pillar of Islam.
Listen to Umh Haider of Basra
"Ramadan isn't about how much you eat or drink, it's an examination of the faith inside of your soul. God said that 'your reward depends upon your effort,' and that 'all the other months of the year are for the people, but this one month is for me.' Ramadan is the best month to clean your heart and soul. When you feel hungry you can remember the suffering of the poor, who are usually hungry, and by remembering you can help them always. Ramadan isn't just to forbid you from eating and drinking; it's to forbid you doing any bad thing. During Ramadan, Islamic activities increase, like praying, reading from the Quran, and helping others. These activities strengthen Islamic relationships because you must join with other Muslims."


 

Hymns

1. Morning has broken 635

2. All I once held dear (On partnership News)

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say 136

4. O God beyond all praising, Tune Thaxted
    

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

Opening Verse of Scripture—Psalm 96:8

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

Collect Prayer for the Day—before we read, we pray

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

Isaiah 45:1-7

This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armour, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 

For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

 I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. 

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. (This is the word of the Lord—Thanks be to God)

Commentary

In the readings over the past few weeks we've seen Jesus openly denounce the Jewish leadership. 

He's called the Pharisees discontented sons (they said they would work in the vineyard but then did not go), evil tenants (of the vineyard and who killed the owners son), ill fated guests (at the wedding feast where they did not wear the robe of Christ). 

This week's gospel reading sees the Pharisees collaborating with the Herodians to go on the counter attack. And because it was almost impossible to separate politics and religion in Israel, the question posed by the Pharisees and Herodians made sense to all who heard it. 

Paying taxes was a real issue for many Jews living under the pagan power of Rome, where the Emperor himself was seen as a demi-god and who now effectively controlled the promised land. To many, paying taxes to Rome effectively sanctioned his power. Similarly withholding taxes had always been one of the ploys advocated by rebels of the day - indeed, remember the Poll Tax rebellion just a few years ago in the UK! 

However, the question posed to Jesus was made all the more sinister because the Pharisees and the Herodians were normally in bitter opposition. The Pharisees resented the payment of taxes to Rome because it was against their religious convictions; the Herodians were the political party of Herod, king of Galilee, who owed their power to the Romans and were therefore content to pay for that privilege through taxes. 

Both parties saw Jesus as a threat and used the question of taxation as an opportunity to trap Him, either politically or theologically, depending on his reply. On the one hand, if he said that taxes should not be paid he would be brought before the Roman governor for sedition, on the other, if he said that taxes should be paid, he would be seen as affirming the status of Caesar and his authority, and be brought before the temple authorities by the Pharisees for blasphemy against the one true and sovereign God of the Jews.

Jesus' answer is wise and perceptive, like many of his responses. It had to be, the question is literally an invitation to commit suicide. Strategies for living in society, especially if we want to bring about change, often require common sense, wisdom and perception. Jesus' response does not advocate withholding taxes. It appears that He is prepared comply and to pay them, just as He was also prepared react, knock tables over and drive money changers out of the temple when a different response was required.

The Pharisees taught that all things are God's, they believed God is God and God is one. They acknowledged this daily in their worship. 

If everything is God's, all will be judged and measured, by His standards, including governments, regimes and the Pharisees own teaching and leadership. And by God's standards all would fall short. 

Standing before Jewish and Herodian inquisitors was the source of ultimate power and authority, yet Jesus chose not to use, or abuse this power. Rather, He asked them to work things out for themselves, given His response and guidelines. 

Today Jesus still gives us the guidelines by which we can make our own decisions and respond to the circumstances that confront us in our society. To give our dues to worldly authorities where appropriate and also to give to God that which is due to Him. 

He alone is the ultimate power and authority, in whom we have our being. It is He who gives our lives true meaning. He gives us all that we are and all that we have. How changed the world would be if we took His words to heart and gave more of what we are, and more of what we have, back to God for His use and control. Sam Cappleman

Meditation

In rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's we are doing no more than Christ demands. We need to achieve a balance between our family, professional and community responsibilities, meet both their spiritual and temporal needs, and in so doing acknowledge the Lord's sovereignty over all. 

At the time Matthew was writing it was virtually impossible to separate politics and religion. In a week where there has been the election of the Mayor of Bedford we are reminded that as Christians we too have a responsibility to be fully involved in our society and to perhaps renew the current general apathy and disinterest in politics with true religion, truth and freedom.

Hymns (Mission Praise)

1. O for a heart to praise my God, 495
2. I am a new creation, 254
3. Take my life, 624
4. Hail to the Lord's anointed, 204

Prayers

Heavenly Father, you taught us by your Son Jesus Christ that all our possessions come from you. Help us to be faithful stewards of our time, our talents and our wealth, and to consecrate gladly to you service a due proportion of all that you have given us. Take us and make us your own; for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen

Almighty God, as we stand at the foot of the cross of your Son, help us to see and know your love for us, so that in humility, love and joy we may place at His feet all that we have and all that we are, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your people, that richly bearing the fruit of good works, they may by you be richly rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Go out into the world; enjoy what God has given you; use all you can in God's service and for the relief of need; and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen

Sermon Taxing Questions

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