Matthew - Week 69

Give to Caesar 

READ 

Matthew 22:21-22 

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away. 

As the Roman coin was given to Him, Jesus asked whose picture and title were stamped on it. This was their reply, and Jesus’ answer to them. Their attempted trap failed so they went away without accomplishing what they had hoped. This passage reveals the need for believers in Jesus to respect the government they live under. When government rules and God’s rules collide, however, the believer in Jesus is to follow what God desires. 

REFLECT 

Have you been tested as to whether to follow the government or God? What did you do? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer about some passages that give guidance about what you should do. See Romans 13:1-5 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4 about one’s responsibility to the government. For your response when there is a conflict between the government and God, see Acts 4:6-20. 

A Test from the Sadducees 

READ 

Matthew 22:23-24 

23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’” 

This passage clearly reveals the unbelief of the Sadducees in anything supernatural. Acts 5:17 indicates the high priestly families were Sadducees. These unbelievers thought they could pose a question so complex that it would cause Jesus to deny there is a resurrection of the dead. They were citing an example from the marriage instructions in the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 25:5-6).  

REFLECT 

This is another reason not to refuse to believe something you read in the Bible just because you don’t understand it. If God explained everything we have a question about, think how large the Bible would be.  

RESPOND 

Talk with another believer about the need to believe what the Bible says even though we may not completely understand what is said. 

Seven Husbands 

READ 

Matthew 22:25-28 

25 “Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow. 26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them. 27 Last of all, the woman also died. 28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.” 

Here is the question the unbelieving Sadducees posed to Jesus. They thought there would be no answer so Jesus would have to admit there is no such thing as a resurrection from the dead. Those who refuse to believe in the supernatural can raise all kinds of questions in thinking they have posed an unanswerable question. Think of those who refuse to believe what God says in the Bible about the creation of the world. Only God was an eyewitness to creation. Why not believe Him? 

REFLECT 

Do you believe what God says in His Word about creation?  

RESPOND 

Encourage another believer by reading Hebrews 11:1-3. Because no one was an eyewitness of creation, even unbelievers must believe what they do by faith. One person said, “It is unbelievable what some unbelievers have to believe in order to be unbelievers.” 

Your Mistake 

READ 

Matthew 22:29-30 

29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. 30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.” 

This is Jesus’ answer to the question the unbelieving Sadducees raised. Some fail to understand what Jesus said, and think believers will all be angels in heaven. That is not what He said. He said only that in heaven there will be no marrying or giving in marriage. This is the way resurrected believers are like the angels in heaven.  

REFLECT 

Notice how important it is to see what the Bible says and what it does not say. 

RESPOND 

Be encouraged by thinking about 2 Timothy 2:15. Make it your desire to accurately teach what the Bible says.  

God of the Living 

READ 

Matthew 22:31-33 

31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” 33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching. 

Jesus now chides the Sadducees for not knowing what the Scriptures say. He was referring to Exodus 3:6 that records what God told Moses. The unbelieving Sadducees were astounded by Jesus’ answer and didn’t know how to answer. They were bold when they thought they had Him trapped. Now they have no answer. 

REFLECT 

Let this be a reminder to you when you are questioning someone about something you do not understand. Show humility and seek to understand what is being said. 

RESPOND 

This week’s posting has covered Matthew 22:21-33. Talk with a friend and review some of the lessons you have learned from these verses.