The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-27


der therefore unto Caesar the thugs that
are Caesars; and unto God the things
that are Gods" Matt. 22:2l r. V.
The title of this lesson suggests
more than the portion of Scripture Sc
lected. seems to warrant. We have
seen in previous lessons how the Mas
ter condemned and denounced the
rulers by his teaching in parallels.
This led the Pharisees to take coun-
sci how they might ensnare him ".
15). Three questions were asked, one
political, one doctrinal and one eth1-
cal. Our next lesson deals with the
third question
Secret Methods.
!. The First Question, w. 1922.
This parable of the wicked husband
man (ch 21) seems to have been
clearly understood by the Pharisees
(v. 45). While it stung it did not
bring them to repentance. The hard
ening effect of unaccepted truth is one
of it's most terrible results upon the
human heart The record tells us
plainly Och. 21:46) why these Phari-
sees were withheld from at once put
ting Jesus out Of the way. They
therefore resorted to secret methods
and endeavored to bring him into con-
f1ict with the Roman government. The
Pharisees entered into this plot to en-
tangle Jesus with their most deter
mined enemies, the -Herodian party
mark 1913. 1t was a good scheme
from their viewpoint to get Jesus to
utter something reasonable and then
to turn him over to Herod, who was
a puppet Of Rome. These Pharisees
scorned to pay taxes to this same gov
eminent with which they are now con-
niving They began with words Of
smooth f1attery ". 16). The devil is
never so subtitle, so dangerous nor so
malicious as when he fatters. Apart
from Jesus each party would have
given quite a different reply to this
question. In fancy we can see them
as they must have gloatingly ex-
claimed, Nov we will see him en-
trapped" If Jesus declared it illegal
to pay tribute to Caesar they could at
once formulate a charge of sedftion
against him. On the other hand, for
him to declare it proper thus to pay
tribute to a foreign government would
seem to them for him to deny his mes
sianic claim, according to their under
standing of the messianic program.
Calling for Roman denarius, a
legal taxpaying coin worth about II
y 1o hi
and superscription?" Caesars" they
reply, and by those words they have
caught themselves and not Jesus. His
reply was, in effect, Very we'll, you
accept the money of Rome, you must
by that act accept the responsibility
which accompanies It," Jesus first of
all denounces their hypocrisy and then
exposes the folly of their question.
His Teaching Is Plain.
II. The Second Question, v. 1888
The rationalistic Sadducees, who did
not believe in the resurrection at all
now try to entrap Jesus by question
ing him along the line of their particu
lar doctrine The teaching Of Jesus
is plain and unequivocal as to the res
direction of the body and the immor
tality Of the soul. Jesus seems in this
reply rather to ignore the first an6
to strike at the second, which is more
fundamental. Their plan of attach
was very scholarly and philosophical
and was designed to show the absurd
ity of his teaching and thus by ridi
Guile discredit his standing. It is al
ways a favorite way for those who
bubble to imagine suggestions case
and then to put a subtle question. II
this case our Lord, by one sentence
demolished their well-planned attack
Eye do err, not knowing the Scrip
lures, nor the power of God" Mar
rage is a relation of this present stat
of affairs only and not with the resur
rection life. We who are worthy o
the resurrection of the dead neithe
marry nor are given in marriag
duke 20:35), nor do we die an.
more duke 20:36), but are equal t.
the angels, e. g., in the immortality o
their nature duke 20:30). More thai
that we are sons of God" (Luk
only the Pentateuch, yet Of this whic
they professed to accept they wer
ignorant Here as elsewhere God def
nitely and repeatedly declares himse]
to be the God of Abraham, Isaac an
Jacob. Jesus proclaims these me1
their patriarchs, as yet alive
Jesus accuses them of error in b.
ing ignorant Of these Scriptures Thi
ignorance was not among the III
learned and can be commonly dup1
Gated today among those who profes
to be scholars. Most especially do W
: find marked ignorance Of ''the powe
of God" Some Of these discomfite
ones could not conceal their admir-;
ton of Jesus reply duke 2O:39).
The Teaching. Jesus here shows U
: the true relation Of himself and of h
people to political questions He re
ognizes the authority of human go
eminent and it is his will that his fC
lowers shall enjoy the liberties (
privileges which that government hs
to offer; at the same time they are I
q submit themselves to its requirement
2, under one clearly stated conditio
b viz, Gods supreme will In so far
e the laws OF the state are just ar