Sons Of Liberty (Matthew 17:24-27)

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:04.799 Was Morning in Matthew's Gospel. We have a somewhat short passage for us. 2 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:11.269 It's only a few verses long, and yet already here there's a bunch of 3 00:00:11.349 --> 00:00:17.070 questions that spring up, aren't there? What is this tax it's being raised, 4 00:00:20.190 --> 00:00:26.460 who's collecting it? What's this for? And also, why does Jesus 5 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:31.179 then pay this tax through a unique miracle like this? I'm sure we've all 6 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:36.770 grown up hearing the stories of Jesus's miracles, his feeding the five thousand right, 7 00:00:36.850 --> 00:00:45.170 his walking on water, his healing ministry, having a coin appear in 8 00:00:45.210 --> 00:00:50.159 the mouth of a fish. That sounds a little bizarre, doesn't it? 9 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:58.039 Or perhaps it sounds too simple. Does this really demonstrate his Divine Majesty? 10 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:03.240 Does this really demonstrate his heavenly authority, as is other miracles have done? 11 00:01:04.829 --> 00:01:08.189 Not only does this passage raise some questions for us, it may also make 12 00:01:08.269 --> 00:01:14.310 us a bit uncomfortable. Though it's only a few verses long, our Lord 13 00:01:14.430 --> 00:01:18.310 is here addressing a topic that we all hold very close to our hearts, 14 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:25.739 a topic we all take very personally. Here Jesus addresses our money, doesn't 15 00:01:25.739 --> 00:01:33.730 he, and not just our having it, but are giving it away and 16 00:01:33.849 --> 00:01:38.489 in the midst of this unique conversation and this unique miracle, our Lord is 17 00:01:38.650 --> 00:01:42.849 revealing himself. He is revealing his own character. Here Jesus has much to 18 00:01:42.969 --> 00:01:49.519 say about his own identity and we'll see how his identity has an effect on 19 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:55.359 you and your identity. So, just before our passage, in fact the 20 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:59.599 last time I was here, many weeks ago, we look at Matthew Seventeen 21 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.150 and in verses, twenty two through twenty three. Just before these events, 22 00:02:04.349 --> 00:02:07.390 we read that as they were gathered in Galilee, Jesus said to them the 23 00:02:07.629 --> 00:02:10.909 son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men and they 24 00:02:10.949 --> 00:02:15.379 will kill him and he will be raised on the third day, and they 25 00:02:15.419 --> 00:02:22.460 were greatly distressed. Right his disciples were greatly distressed by hearing this. Jesus 26 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:25.860 reminds his disciples that his sights are set on Jerusalem, that he's about to 27 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:32.090 engage in a great conflict. The enemies have been slowly gathering around Jesus and 28 00:02:32.129 --> 00:02:38.689 they will eventually seize him and kill him. He comforts his disciples by giving 29 00:02:38.729 --> 00:02:42.729 them the four now is that that his death is not the end, but 30 00:02:42.849 --> 00:02:47.520 he will not remain in the grave, but he will be raised victorious on 31 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:54.680 that third day, as our Lord is therefore having us anticipate paid this this 32 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:02.830 great coming conflict, and immediately we're given this passage which seems to begin with 33 00:03:02.909 --> 00:03:09.509 a situation which could easily erupt into that conflict, couldn't it? When they 34 00:03:09.550 --> 00:03:13.539 came to Kapernham, the collectors of the half shuckle tax went to Peter and 35 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:20.620 said, does your teacher not pay the tax? Tax collectors come knocking on 36 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:27.060 Peter's door and they'll just come with a bill. Right, they don't have 37 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:30.409 a statement. Here, here's what you owe. They come with this challenge. 38 00:03:32.009 --> 00:03:38.370 They say, does your teacher not pay the tax? You See, 39 00:03:38.409 --> 00:03:43.800 the tax that they were collecting was for a very specific purpose. The to 40 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:49.319 Dropma tax, or it was also called the halfsheckle tax, was a yearly 41 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:53.199 tax upon the House of Israel that everyone in Israel was expected to pay, 42 00:03:55.590 --> 00:03:59.629 and the origins of this tax can be found way back in the book of 43 00:03:59.710 --> 00:04:05.629 Exodus. They rooted it in Exodus, Chapter Thirty, verse eleven. Here 44 00:04:05.750 --> 00:04:10.180 what that says. The Lord said to Moses, when you take the census 45 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:14.180 of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life 46 00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:16.100 to the Lord, when you number them, that there may no be that 47 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:19.660 there be no plague among them. When you number them, each one who 48 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:24.930 is numbered in the senses shall get of this half a shekel. According to 49 00:04:24.970 --> 00:04:29.529 the chuckle of the sanctuary, half a shekel is an offering to the Lord. 50 00:04:29.889 --> 00:04:32.569 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upwards 51 00:04:32.569 --> 00:04:35.889 shall give the Lord's offering. The rich shall not give more. The poor 52 00:04:35.930 --> 00:04:41.399 shall, I give rest than half the shekel. When you give the Lord's 53 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:46.000 offering, to make atonement for your lives. So this offering was taken up 54 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:50.560 by Moses there in the Wilderness as a way to fund and pay for the 55 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:59.230 Tabernacle, and all of Israel was to participate in its construction and in its 56 00:04:59.269 --> 00:05:04.829 maintenance. It was for the the Tabernacle because this language of a ransom, 57 00:05:04.990 --> 00:05:09.379 this language of an atonement, is used, because this is what would happen 58 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:13.139 there, at the tent of meeting, there where God would dwell with his 59 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:18.579 people, sacrifices would be offered, prayers would be prayed. And yet, 60 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:21.370 by Jesus Day, what what appears to have been in exodus, a a 61 00:05:21.569 --> 00:05:29.050 one time tax upon Israel in the Wilderness had now become appropriated and used by 62 00:05:29.089 --> 00:05:33.810 those running the temple in Jerusalem as a way to keep all Israel compelled to 63 00:05:33.850 --> 00:05:41.439 support the activities of the temple. So as taxes go, it was a 64 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:46.079 controversial one. Some thought they were exempt, some thought they only had to 65 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:54.470 pay once in their lives. Yet this was being gathered every year. So 66 00:05:54.550 --> 00:06:00.029 you can see why the tax collectors would expect perhaps some pushback. Does your 67 00:06:00.110 --> 00:06:02.990 teacher not pay the tax it? It comes with the expectation that there's probably 68 00:06:02.990 --> 00:06:09.699 going to be a debate about this or perhaps a rebuke. But what does 69 00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:15.540 Peter say? He says yes, he does pay the tax. He doesn't 70 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:23.689 go ask Jesus about this controversial subject. He doesn't instantly reject their proposal, 71 00:06:23.769 --> 00:06:31.129 as biblically suspicious as it is. He instinctively says yes, of course Jesus 72 00:06:31.129 --> 00:06:35.399 pays the tax. Having been around Jesus long enough, Peter at least knows 73 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:40.800 this much, that Jesus contributes, he pays this tax to the temple. 74 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:47.149 Notice that when Peter Enters the house, Jesus approaches him, and perhaps here 75 00:06:47.189 --> 00:06:53.509 we would expect something like the rebuke. After all, not to pick on 76 00:06:53.629 --> 00:07:00.069 Peter, but he can be rather careless with his speech. Has Peter here 77 00:07:00.149 --> 00:07:03.579 spoken out of turn? Has He been too quick to say yes? And 78 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:09.459 yet, instead of a rebuke, our Lord Asks Peter a question, as 79 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:13.259 if he knew Peter was wrestling with this subject, as if he knew Peter's 80 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:17.689 suspicions regarding this tax. Jesus says, what do you think, Simon, 81 00:07:19.050 --> 00:07:25.730 from whom do kings of the Earth take toll or tax? From their sons 82 00:07:27.129 --> 00:07:34.920 or from others? If Jesus Asks Peter a very simple and pretty straightforward question, 83 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:43.480 he's asking Peter to observe how the world works. Kings have incredible authority 84 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:47.350 over their subjects. So whom do they charge when tax time rolls around? 85 00:07:48.389 --> 00:07:53.629 And who gets that free pass? Here? Jesus gives only two options. 86 00:07:53.709 --> 00:08:00.259 Do they tax their sons or do they tax others? Are those within the 87 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:07.459 household being taxed? No, of course not. Notice even Peter gets this 88 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:15.129 question right. Kings don't tax their own sons. Isn't that one of the 89 00:08:15.170 --> 00:08:20.769 benefits of royalty taxes? Would pay for their palaces, it would pay for 90 00:08:22.050 --> 00:08:28.600 their meals. Sons share in that abundance. They're not burdened to support it. 91 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:35.000 Jesus even reiterates, so the scent. So then the sons are free, 92 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:43.830 sons of the king are free from the obligations of the others. Now 93 00:08:43.870 --> 00:08:50.669 Jesus here makes a point that is plain enough to understand. But why? 94 00:08:52.149 --> 00:08:58.259 What does this point prove? Why is he even engaging in this conversation? 95 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:05.059 Well, here Jesus is bringing up this subject, a subject of sonship. 96 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:13.409 We're Peter and the tax collectors may be concerned with the money, who's collecting 97 00:09:13.409 --> 00:09:16.250 it, where it's going. What's Jesus concerned with? He's concerned with this 98 00:09:16.370 --> 00:09:20.009 topic, this idea of Sonship, and this has been a part of Christ's 99 00:09:20.049 --> 00:09:24.279 ministry now, for for a while in fact, in Chapter Sixteen, when 100 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:28.639 Peter gives this good confession. What is the Good Confession that Peter Confesses? 101 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.279 When Jesus asks who do you say? I am Simon, Peter replied you 102 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:39.789 are the Christ, the son of the Living God. And when Jesus was 103 00:09:39.870 --> 00:09:45.029 transfigured on that mountain in front of three of his disciples, a bright cloud 104 00:09:45.149 --> 00:09:48.549 overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud said this is my beloved son, 105 00:09:48.710 --> 00:09:54.700 with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. A similar voice that 106 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:56.740 was there at his baptism, at the beginning of his ministry, declaring this 107 00:09:56.820 --> 00:10:03.779 is my son. And so Jesus has been drawing us to make the same 108 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:07.289 confession that Peter has made, that this is the Christ, the son of 109 00:10:07.370 --> 00:10:16.090 the Living God. But what is Jesus point by directing us to this illustration 110 00:10:16.169 --> 00:10:22.639 of sons and their relationship to the king? Who is Jesus? He's the 111 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.320 son of God, as we've heard. So, as the son of God, 112 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:33.480 why is he paying the tax? The tax collectors expected a challenge. 113 00:10:35.990 --> 00:10:41.110 Isn't this an incredible challenge? He is the son of God. This makes 114 00:10:41.149 --> 00:10:48.950 him Lord over the temple itself. Isn't he exempt then from having to pay 115 00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:58.059 for it? Here Jesus question is identifying who he is. He's reminding his 116 00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:03.059 disciples what is true about him. Yes, he will be handed over, 117 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:07.649 he he will be burdened, he will be oppressed, but none of us 118 00:11:07.649 --> 00:11:13.730 denies who he is. He is the son of God, as son of 119 00:11:13.769 --> 00:11:18.120 the king, shouldn't that bring certain privileges? Shouldn't he, of all people, 120 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:24.639 be exempt then from this tax? In fact, he's already made the 121 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:28.759 point earlier in chapter twelve, when questioned by the the Pharisees regarding his work 122 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:33.909 on the Sabbath. Jesus declared himself, as the son of man, to 123 00:11:33.990 --> 00:11:39.509 be Lord of the Sabbath. And as he compares his activity to the the 124 00:11:39.590 --> 00:11:43.509 priests in the temple, he says in Matthew, Chapter Twelve, verse six, 125 00:11:43.590 --> 00:11:50.620 I tell you something greater than the temple is here. For you see, 126 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:54.220 the temple has been the place of God's dwelling with his people. But 127 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:58.500 now that God himself has become incarnate, as Paul says in cautions to verse 128 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:05.490 nine, in him the whole fullness of Deity dwells bodily, why would he 129 00:12:05.809 --> 00:12:13.129 now be supporting that temple which he has come to replace? Why would he 130 00:12:13.210 --> 00:12:18.840 support that shadow that he has come to fulfill? Do you see why this 131 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:26.320 little half shackled tax has so much to say about Jesus? He uses this 132 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:33.629 transaction as a further instruction of his true nature as the son of God. 133 00:12:33.789 --> 00:12:41.230 He is free. He's under no obligation to pay this tax. And if 134 00:12:41.309 --> 00:12:46.659 this is true of Jesus, that is what he also says about Peter. 135 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:54.980 What does he say? He doesn't say the sun is free. He says 136 00:12:54.059 --> 00:13:01.250 the son's plural are free. If Jesus is the son of God, what 137 00:13:01.409 --> 00:13:05.529 is he now here declaring a is true about Peter? Is Peter the outsider, 138 00:13:07.529 --> 00:13:16.679 while Jesus is a of the outsiders outside the palace gates, while Jesus 139 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:22.240 is comfortably at rest within the family of God. Oh, what Jesus is 140 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:28.830 declaring is that Peter too is a son of the king. He includes Peter 141 00:13:28.909 --> 00:13:33.149 when he says the sons are free. Let us how he includes Peter in 142 00:13:33.429 --> 00:13:35.429 in paying for the tax, saying let us not give offense to them. 143 00:13:37.429 --> 00:13:41.899 Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes 144 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:45.220 up. When you open set's mouth, you will find a shekel. Take 145 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:50.820 that. Give it to them for me and for yourself. See See, 146 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:56.610 not only is Jesus saying that he should be exempt, so is Peter. 147 00:13:58.129 --> 00:14:03.649 And what greater exemption is there then? Appealing to God's Heavenly Authority for you, 148 00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:09.120 identifies who he is as the son of God. These privileges of sonship 149 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:15.720 belong not only to Jesus but to Peter as well, so that this disciple 150 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:22.080 is included as a member of the family of God. And yet given these 151 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:28.870 rights, given these privileges, rather than digging in his heels. What does 152 00:14:28.909 --> 00:14:37.309 Jesus do? He pays the tax for himself, in for Peter. Why? 153 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:46.379 What does paying the tax mean if sons don't pay but outsiders do? 154 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:54.809 And isn't Jesus identifying himself as an outsider, though he has the full rights 155 00:14:54.850 --> 00:15:00.970 of membership in the household of God? Jesus counts himself here like the outsiders. 156 00:15:01.049 --> 00:15:05.809 Here, in this minor transaction, don't we see a brief glimpse of 157 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:13.720 what Christ's entire ministry is all about? Though he is the incarnate Lord of 158 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:18.200 Heaven and earth? We see that he came not to take up a throne 159 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:26.509 but to be rejected, not to be served but to serve, to be 160 00:15:26.590 --> 00:15:33.590 stricken, smitten and afflicted, all the while being the Lord, which is 161 00:15:33.669 --> 00:15:39.340 demonstrated here by this miracle. Though it sounds strange, though it sounds bizarre, 162 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:48.700 notice how it demonstrates his absolute sovereign control over all things. For why 163 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:56.250 doesn't Jesus just make the checkle appear? Couldn't he have done that? Couldn't 164 00:15:56.250 --> 00:16:00.730 he have just spoken a word and their coffers would have been full? Instead, 165 00:16:00.730 --> 00:16:03.399 he tells Peter, take your fishing Rod, go to the sea. 166 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:10.840 He gives them the old all these steps. Think of all the circumstances that 167 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:17.000 would have to have occurred in that present is exact timing for a Shekele to 168 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:21.750 find its way into a fish's mouth, to be pulled up at that exact 169 00:16:21.950 --> 00:16:30.309 moment, all the physics behind those causes and Effects, all the circumstances of 170 00:16:30.509 --> 00:16:38.259 whether of nature of the sea, the physics of that Hook, the crisis, 171 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:45.419 demonstrating his control and his command over all of it. But to do 172 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:52.409 what? To identify himself as an outsider. By paying this tax. Our 173 00:16:52.490 --> 00:16:56.929 Lord gives us an amazing picture of himself, who he is and also what 174 00:16:56.090 --> 00:17:02.039 he came to accomplish free demonstrates, at the one hit, his supremacy over 175 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:06.200 this tax. He's able to pay it with ease, though he doesn't have 176 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:12.960 to. He demonstrates his supremacy over nature itself. Yet he takes up the 177 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:22.750 position of an outsider. Do you see how this affects you, how this 178 00:17:22.869 --> 00:17:32.500 affects myself? To view ourselves and our view of this world, isn't a 179 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:37.539 great comfort to know that the Lord of Heaven and earth has brought you into 180 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:44.650 his family? Here we see Christ's inclusiveness and we reminded that through Christ we 181 00:17:44.769 --> 00:17:49.250 have, we too have received this adoption as sons. This comes with it 182 00:17:49.369 --> 00:17:56.529 the rights and the privileges as sons and daughters of our heavenly father. As 183 00:17:56.569 --> 00:18:02.319 Christ has been preparing his disciples, he will go to that cross, he 184 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:07.440 will be crushed, but not for his own sins, but for for yours. 185 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:11.799 He goes to the cross to do away with your sin, to provide 186 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.470 you with the righteousness which can stand before God, which can stand in the 187 00:18:15.589 --> 00:18:23.390 family of God, so that we would be numbered alongside Christ as sons of 188 00:18:23.589 --> 00:18:29.299 God. What an amazing adoption we've received, for this brings with it the 189 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:33.660 inheritance of glory which Christ has provided, the promise of the resurrection, of 190 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:37.700 life beyond the grave, from which Christ himself was the first fruit. This 191 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:44.410 is who you are in Christ, this is what belongs to you in Christ. 192 00:18:45.970 --> 00:18:49.130 So then, how are we to relate to these burdens? Burdens like 193 00:18:49.329 --> 00:18:56.279 taxes, which we experience in this world as well? Jesus directs us to 194 00:18:56.359 --> 00:19:03.880 this earthly example of kings extracting taxes from their citizens. This illustration points us 195 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:08.759 to Christ, to his divine identity, but it also directs us to ourselves 196 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:15.509 and our role as citizens of this world. Surely we understand Jesus is illustration 197 00:19:15.670 --> 00:19:22.509 as as citizens ourselves, we ourselves pay taxes often. But if, ultimately 198 00:19:22.589 --> 00:19:26.460 we belong not to this world but to God, it'sn't that part of you 199 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:33.660 that feels like we should be exempt from such things? Perhaps we feel like 200 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.900 we are, and that feelings made all the more abundant when we see how 201 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:41.809 taxes get spent in this world. And if Jesus point is that sons of 202 00:19:41.970 --> 00:19:47.690 the king don't pay the tax, who are we? Are we sons and 203 00:19:47.730 --> 00:19:52.690 daughters of the king? Why do we continue in them? Why don't we 204 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:56.119 resist? Since our citizenship is in heaven, since God is our father? 205 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:04.359 Sons of the king don't pay, sons are free, Jesus says. Isn't 206 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:10.349 that who you are? Aren't you adopted into the family of God? But 207 00:20:11.390 --> 00:20:18.789 given Jesus is illustration, what does our paying of taxes affirm about you and 208 00:20:18.950 --> 00:20:22.900 your citizenship in this world? Sure, it identifies you as a citizen and 209 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:27.539 it identifies you as one in submission to those God has placed over you. 210 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:36.609 What does it say that you are not? It demonstrates that you are not 211 00:20:37.970 --> 00:20:42.970 sons of these earthly kings. Perhaps this is a bit foreign to us. 212 00:20:44.970 --> 00:20:48.089 Wasn't our country founded on taxes giving us a seat at the table, giving 213 00:20:48.130 --> 00:20:56.839 us voice, giving US representation? But do you see what Jesus is telling 214 00:20:56.920 --> 00:21:03.430 you about what even paying taxes says about your identity in this world? Means 215 00:21:03.470 --> 00:21:07.470 that, by paying the taxes, you're actually the outsider. Means that your 216 00:21:07.549 --> 00:21:11.990 inheritance is not tied to the things of this world. It means that you 217 00:21:12.029 --> 00:21:18.619 do not ultimately belong to this Kingdom of this world. So then, by 218 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:22.900 paying what your government commands of you, even in this your Lord is directing 219 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:29.579 you to your true citizenship, do your true inheritance as sons and daughters of 220 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:36.809 your heavenly father. The fact that you're not exempt from the taxes of this 221 00:21:36.970 --> 00:21:42.769 world proves that you do not ultimately belong to the rights and the privileges of 222 00:21:42.970 --> 00:21:51.680 this world, because you belong to Heaven, just as Christ, who earned 223 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:57.279 this inheritance for you and yet here submits himself to the burdens of this world. 224 00:22:00.710 --> 00:22:04.309 And if this is how we view our our giving to our governments and 225 00:22:04.430 --> 00:22:11.430 to our rulers says, have something else to say about our offerings and our 226 00:22:11.950 --> 00:22:15.819 givings to the church. Isn't that kind of what this temple tax was, 227 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:22.900 something like a compulsory offering? Is that how we're to view our giving to 228 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:29.980 the church? Is is the tax that God has imposed upon you? Is 229 00:22:30.009 --> 00:22:37.130 Our giving just an obligation that we're expected to fulfill? I love hear how 230 00:22:37.170 --> 00:22:42.289 Jesus Compares our relationship to God and our relationship to the kings of this earth. 231 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:49.279 Let us how this further highlights the contrast between how our king rules and 232 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:56.240 how the princes of this world rule. Is Your God simply your king who 233 00:22:56.279 --> 00:23:03.630 commands payment? Look, even in our passage, at the character of your 234 00:23:03.670 --> 00:23:07.589 King, as Christ demonstrates, he is more than your king, he is 235 00:23:07.710 --> 00:23:12.579 your heavenly father, and look at his love for you. In Christ, 236 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:18.579 rather than just requiring payment from you. Even here in our passage, it 237 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:29.250 is Christ who provides the payment, it is Christ who gives. So there 238 00:23:29.329 --> 00:23:33.170 are giving to the church is going to look very different from our giving to 239 00:23:33.289 --> 00:23:38.690 this world. You see, we give out of the abundance of what he 240 00:23:38.730 --> 00:23:45.920 has given to us. The freedom with which we give to the body of 241 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:49.119 Christ is but a reflection of how Christ has so freely given to us, 242 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:56.670 and as Christ has given everything. Therefore, we give not just money. 243 00:23:59.390 --> 00:24:02.910 We give our time, don't we give our energy, we give our resources, 244 00:24:03.029 --> 00:24:10.819 we give our prayers, even our tears. As sons of the king, 245 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:15.500 our life in this world continually reminds us of this dual citizenship that we 246 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:21.900 possess. As citizens of this world, we have obligations, we have duties, 247 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:25.690 we have burdens, and yet, in our approach to these things, 248 00:24:25.730 --> 00:24:30.730 we are demonstrating who we truly belong to, where our true identity rests. 249 00:24:32.650 --> 00:24:37.680 We're demonstrating what is our eternal glory and our internal inheritance and our hope for 250 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:45.640 a city with foundations whose designer and builder is God. Amen.