The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-05-14
Lesson Text: Mark l2:l3-l7. 1884.


James and John for places of
honor, the cure of blind Barti-
maeus, the triumphal entry into
Jesusalem, the cleansing of the
temple, and the parable of the
huSbandmen.
The Pharisees, on hearing this
last parable, recognized it as a
clear denunciation of themselves
and becoming more angry than
ever, decided to have questions
propounded to Jesus that would
trap" him in his speech. Thus,
we witness the amazing spectacle
of a Galilean peasant engaged in
an intelligence contest with the
learned leaders of the Jewish
church and see him put them to
rout.
( The Jews at this time were I'M
der the rule of the Romans,
whose emperor was Tiberius Gaze
osar. They were required to pay
taxes. to the Roman Government
and to the Pharisees this was a
sign of degradation. However,
there were Jews, called the Hero
dams, who were almost the OPP
posite, being affiliated with a
government friendly and subSer-
Went to Rome, caring very little
for religion and living generally
loose and icentious lives. In
their common opposition to Jesus,
however, these two unnatural al
lies cooperated.
So, the leaders of the Pharisecs
and the Scribes sent several men
to Jesus to ask him a question
which they thought would prove
seriously embarrassing to him
and would be the grounds upon
which they would be able to de-
stroy him, either by stirring up
the people against him or by hav-
ing the government take him in
charge. The preliminary premise
was carefully prepared before the
question was put. 1t began by ex-
pressing a conviction that Jesus
was sincere. that he was teaching
/ Gods truth, and, therefore, he
was absolutely fearless of the eff
fects of his answer to any ques-
/ ton. This introduction served to
heighten the interest of those who
heard it propounded and called
attention to the Importance of the
reply. Then Jesus was asked: rs
I it lawful to give tribute to Caesar,
or not? Shall we give, or shall
we not give?"
These men thought that they
/ had placed Jesus in an inextrlc-
able difficulty. If he opposed the
payment, he would incur the en-
nifty of the Herodians and the
Roman government; if he advised
payment, he would ALLEVIATE the
devotion and respect of a large
portion of Jews who had been in
famed to regard it as sinful; and,
if he avoided the question by not
! answering, he would deny the
truth of their complimentary, in
troductory preface, and his stand
ing with those who listened would
be imperiled.
However. calling for a denarius,
a Roman penny. with which the
tax was paid. he directed attcn-
ton to the fact that the image
and inscription of Caesar appear
cd thereon. Therefore, it was
right to render unto Caesar the
things that were his. In other
words. inasmuch as the Jews re-
ceived all the benefits Of the Ro-
man government and accepted
them without question, they
should not refuse 10 pay some
thing for the services received.
Roads had been improved, body
of laws which surpassed any of
prior DAYS given. an era Of peace
and order resulted from Roman
administration. and protection
was given from their natural enc
mics. For such things, Jesus in
tima,ed, payment should be rem
dered.
However. Jesus was not willing
TO leave the question here. While
he recognized a duty of the citi-
zen 20 the government which aids
and protects him. he also repre-
sented the eternal ard indestruc-
tible divine principles Of righ-
teousneSs and justice The Citl-
zen had his obligation 10 God as
well as 70 Caesar. and Jesus con-
tluued that the Jcw should ren-
der unto God the things that aere
his. The supreme need Of today
Is To render TO Caesar his due.
bat no more. ard 60 God his due.
and no less. ard 30 Dc honest with
ourselves that in our talking
about rendering dues to Caesar
and 80 God, we are not in fact
rendering them 80 ourselves" "A
Donald Miller
After answering question pro-
pounded BY tire Sadd9sCeeS in re-
gard 20 the resurrection. the Phar-
isees came back At hln wgih still
another question A scribe want
ed ~ know which Jesus conN9.
erred the greatest commandment