Hypocrisy Abounds
I’m not too sure a whole lot has changed in the last 2,000 years. All around us things are not what they seem. Advertising is misleading. It puts campaigns together in such a way as to influence your wants and desires. And you rush out to get that thing whether you need it or not.
The media only tells one side of a story. The one they want you to believe. Then you have to dig for the other side, so you have the full picture.
At election time, politicians only tell you want they want you to believe, too.
How can we navigate the deception in our lives these days?
Render to Caesar what is His
Liars surrounded Jesus constantly hoping to trap Him into saying or doing something damaging. Oh, if we could be more like Him!
The leaders of His time pretended to absorb His teachings. Then—ZAP!
“Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth,” And more flattery, then the zapper, “Tells us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Come on, get real.
You’ve heard the old adage. Only two things are true in life: taxes and death. Yep.
If we live in a country, abide under its law and order, make our livelihood in said country, then we owe taxes to cover collective needs. It makes sense. So, why ask such a silly question?
Give to God what is His
They asked it because they hoped to trap Him into some kind of blunder.
Silly leaders. They did not know who they were dealing with. God Himself, who held their eternity in those very hands He held out when He asked for a coin.
“Whose image and inscription is this?”
“Caesar’s,” They responded. They probably rolled their eyes. Of course, everyone knew that Caesar’s image was stamped on the coin. Duh!
“Well, then,” Jesus could have tossed the coin in the air and caught it. “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
Scripture says they went away marveling. I think they went away muttering and stomping their feet. Foiled again!
Coins or More
I posted this picture recently. But we are not yet done voting. We live in a great country. The greatest experiment of freedom ever. And it is in danger. There are two very different roads in front of us. One fork to the right, the other to the left. We must choose.
Do we know who we are voting for? Look beneath the surface. Examine the issues. Learn from history. And cast a vote.
Above Scriptures from Matthew, chapter 22.
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