Matthew 22:15-33

< Back to Matthew Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Lord Answers Questions that were Designed to Discredit Him

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. While on earth, believers should pay their taxes.

  2. When in heaven, believers will not be married.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s believe in the verbal inspiration of Scripture as Jesus did.

QUESTIONS

  1. Who were the Herodians?

  2. Why is it ironic that the Pharisees and Herodians were in cooperation?

  3. How did the Pharisees and Herodians hope to trap the Lord with their question about taxes?

  4. Who were the Sadducees?

  5. Does the Bible teach that we become angels when we die?

ANSWERS

  1. The Herodians were a political party in Israel that favored the rule of Herod, because they wanted peace with Rome.

  2. The Pharisees were adamantly opposed to Roman rule, and were normally enemies of the Herodians. Here they are united in their opposition to Christ.

  3. If Jesus said they should not pay taxes, the Pharisees would turn Him over to the Roman authorities. If He said yes, they hoped the common people who hated Roman oppression would turn against Him.

  4. The Sadducees were the theological liberals of Jesus’ day. They did not believe in miracles, the resurrection of the body, or life after death.

  5. No, Matthew 22:30 says that we will be like angels in that we will not be married in heaven.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. In Jesus’ time, coins were made with the image of Caesar. Man has always been made in the image of God. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Discuss this beautiful parallel, and the implications it should have in our lives.

  2. Discuss the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture. Refer to 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21. Jesus believed that God inspired Scripture right down to controlling the very words used. We should have this high view of Scripture as well.

CHALLENGE

  1. In this passage we have examples of Jesus’ opponents coming up with some wild arguments in an attempt to discredit Christ. This still happens today as people are willing to go to the extreme to avoid the truth about Jesus. Are you willing to accept the truth about who Jesus is?

KEY VERSES

  • “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21

  • “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” Matthew 22:30

Matthew, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMatthew 22:15-33