A Study of the commands from our Lord, Jesus the Christ

Week 20, April 11th

This week's Tour Stop: the command: "Render Unto Caesar". My friend, Rick Parizek, wanted me to use this command leading up to April 15th. The day when taxes are due to "Caesar"

The command is found in three of the Gospels:
- Matthew 22:21 (NASB)
- Mark 12:17 (NASB)
- Luke 20:25 (NASB)

There are two parts to this command:
Render unto Caesar
and
Render unto GOD

The commands were given to a group consisting of the Pharisees and the Herodians (see "Who were the Herodians?" ).

The only subject these two diametrically opposed groups could agree on was that Jesus needed to be destroyed (see Mark 3:6 (NASB) ).

From the written account, there is no indication that either command was obeyed. Jesus didn't expect them to. Look at Mark 12:15 (NASB). But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me?”

"And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him. (see Mark 12:17 (NASB)).

The Greek word used for "amazed" is "ekthaumazō" and has the meaning of "being greatly amazed". This is the only time this word is used in the New Testament. Jesus just "greatly amazed" the brightest and the best the Ruling Council of the Jews could send to trap him.

As if this wasn't enough, Jesus then shuts down the Sadducees in verses 18-27 They, too, wanted to argue with the LORD on the meaning of the Law. Imagine, mere men, created beings, arguing with the LORD on the meaning of Scripture. Jesus shows them their error and confirms the resurrection of the dead.

Then a scribe comes to Jesus with a honest question. The scribe had been listening to the other two groups trying to trap Jesus. He saw how Jesus "answered them well". The scribe was searching for knowledge about GOD and wanted to know how to obey the command "render unto GOD the things that are GOD's". So he asks: "What commandment is the foremost of all?" (verse 28).

When Jesus answered the scribe, we were all given how to obey the second part of this week's command and "render unto GOD the things that are GOD's.

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB) "HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH."

If you are loving the LORD in this way, you are obeying the LORD's command.

And if you still have doubts about this or anything. Go to the Holy Spirit. Ask for direction and you WILL receive guidance (see John 14:26 (NASB)).

If you have any other questions for me please send me an email

If this link does not work for you my email address is 'burtonmark@cox.net' with the subject line of 'Week 20'. I would love to hear from you.

The tour continues next week with a look at a command from the Gospel of Luke.

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