Passion: Government

Passion: Government

Passion: Government or God?

A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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I. ATTEMPTED ENTRAPMENT

A. PLOT
1. FORMULATING
Mt 22:15 Then the Pharisees secretly plotted how to trap Jesus as He taught.
2. FEIGNED
Luke 20:20 They sent spies, who feigned sincerity, trying to catch Him in something He said, so as to deliver Him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

B. PRELIMINARIES
1. FACTIONS
Mt 22:16b Their disciples, along with the Herodians, said,
2. FLATTERING
Mt 22:16c “Teacher, we know that You are honest and teach the way of God truthfully, and you don’t care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by man’s appearance.

C. PROPOSITION
1. FAIRNESS
Mt 22:17 Tell us, then, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
2. FOCUS
Mk 12:14c Should we pay them, or not?”

II. ASTONISHING ESCAPE

A. PERCEPTION
1. FALSE
Mt 22:18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Hypocrites. Why do you test me?
2. FORENSICS
Mt 22:19 Let Me look at the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.

B. PRINCIPLE
1. FEATURES
Mt 22:20-21a And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription [is] this?”
They said, “Caesar’s.”
2. FORFEITURE
Mt 22:21b Then He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar the things of Caesar
3. FITTING
Mt 22:21c and to God the things of God.”

C. PERPLEXING
1. FINISHED
Lk 20:26 And they were not able to catch Him in public by what He said, but marveling at His answer they were silenced.
2. FAREWELL
Mt 22:22 And they left Him and went away.