Sermon for Pentecost 18, Series A

Grace, Mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father, and from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The basis for the sermon is the Gospel text, especially these words:

"Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." Here ends the text.

To the heavenly citizens sojourning here in Plymouth,

The Gospel reading once again shows us the hatred that sinners have for Jesus. Once again, human reason seeks to entrap the Word made Flesh in a Gordian Knot, a seemingly insolvable problem. However, the sinful mind soon finds out that the words of Jesus, sharp as any two-edged sword, easily cut through such a problem. Thus, those who would be captors are now the captured, and Christ once again astounds us.
But the words of Jesus, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” are more than just a rebuttal to the Pharisees and the Herodians. In the Gospel reading,

JESUS SHOWS US WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A CHRISTIAN IN LIGHT OF THE CROSS.

Jesus’ words, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” are comprehensive. The implications of this statement are not really drawn out, however. So, we must ask the Lutheran catechetical question. What does this mean? What belongs to Caesar and what do I owe him?
Unfortunately, many Christians throughout the years have struggled with this problem and failed to render to Caesar the things of Caesar. Some Christians drift off the path toward the “right.” They seek to dominate Caesar’s kingdom by means of Christianity. The popes are a good example. They seized the power that belonged to kings and emperors. Another example, a little closer to home, is the Puritan emigration. They sought to build a theocracy, the rule of God, here in the new World. John Wintrhop, one of the pastors, preached a sermon where he claimed that they were a “Citty upon a Hill, [and] the eies of all people are uppon us.” And today, we see this tendency among those who would make America a “Christian nation.” These men, while having good intentions, failed miserably and rightly so. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." If you try to establish Christ’s kingdom as an earthly kingdom, you are no better than Peter, who struck off the ear of the high priest’s servant.
Other people, drift off the path to the “left.” They seek to withdraw from government, in order to remain pure and unsullied. Men and women from prominent families went into the desert as monks in order to avoid political office. Or you can look at the Jehovah’s Witness, who refuses to say the pledge of allegiance or fly a flag. While we wouldn’t go to such extremes, don’t we sympathize with them, even just a little? What is the popular, however generalized, conception of the politician? The Politian is a consummate liar, a person with no scruples. The recent sex scandals like Senator Weiner really don’t help to change this picture. Even the word “politics” has become a dirty word, associated with irrelevant wrangling and backstabbing. Why would I want to dirty myself by associating with those crooks in Washington?
These people also fail to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. They tend to view the government as a thing of the devil or as a human arrangement, nothing more. St. Paul destroys these faulty views when he writes in Romans chapter 13, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” You see, a golden chain doesn’t stop being golden, simply because it is being worn by a pig or a monkey. In the same manner, the government doesn’t stop being an institution of God, even when sinful people abuse their God-given authority. Our Heavenly Father has created and preserved the government as his mask in the world. This shouldn’t be difficult to believe, since we believe that God works through means. If Christ gives His body and blood in, with and under the bread and the wine or calls a pastor through men, can Christ not rule through the people of the government? So, this is what it means to render to Caesar the things of Caesar: “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
But why do we need the government? What does the government do that is so important? The government’s primary goal is not to encourage universal health insurance, have a space program, or live a parasitic life on the hard earned cash of its citizens. According to the Scriptures, the government’s goal is the execution of the Law of God: “For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” While it may not seem like it, this is a blessed gift from God. We need someone to bear the sword. Otherwise, we sinful people would be like rabid dogs; we would steal, murder, and pillage with no regard for the consequences. But through Caesar, through the government and civil laws, Christ curbs our sinful desires and keeps us safe from the sinful desires of others.
As long as Caesar doesn’t act contrary to God’s law, we render what is God’s to God when we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. However, when Caesar forbids the preaching of the Law and Gospel or commands things that are contrary to God’s Law, we must resist. With St. Peter and the apostles, we boldly say “We must obey God rather than men.” This might even mean jail time. This might even mean fines. This might even mean martyrdom. We have been safe in America for a long time, but that could be taken from us at any time. As the sermon last week stated, “The Christian life is a life of obedience to Christ.” This is what it means to render to God what is God’s. It means being willing to suffer all, even death, for the sake of Christ.
Therefore, we live under the government in the same way that Christ lived and we suffer under the government just as Christ suffered. Jesus paid His taxes. He acknowledged the authority of Caesar when He said to Pilate, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” He submitted to execution, to crucifixion, even though He was guiltless. In the midst of all this suffering, Christ did not rail against Caesar, but committed Himself to the Father, who judges in righteousness. All this was done, so that you might have a better citizenship than you currently have. Paul speaks to this new citizenship: “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
So, in this life, render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give all glory and honor to God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. When you fail or give what you owe grudgingly, repent of your sins and take comfort in the One who rendered perfect obedience to both Caesar and God for your sake.

Amen.

Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.