Caesar's Authority
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Probing where "Caesar's" authority comes from and Who delegated it to him.
Text: Luke 20:20-26
Date: 03/09/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 186
Description:
Jesus' confrontation with the religious leaders in the Temple continues as a new delegation is sent to test Him concerning the authority of Caesar. The subject at hand was a "poll tax" that was mandated by the Romans but deeply hated by the Jews. Hoping to catch Jesus in the middle of a politically-charged and highly emotional issue, they asked Him whether it was lawful for God's chosen people to pay such a tax to a pagan overlord. Jesus asks for a coin as an object lesson and then famously responded to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesars". We will analyze both the question and the answer paying close attention to Luke's ongoing discussion of authority. We will pay particular attention to what it means when Jesus adds "and render to God the things that are God's". We will study the difference between "delegated authority", "arrogated authority" and "abrogated authority" to successfully navigate the sometimes confusing relationship between the church and the state, and thereby determine exactly what is "Caesar's authority"?
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 20:20-26.
A. Context, Luke 19:38, 20:2; Psa. 118:23.
B. Determining the authority of Caesar.
1. The set-up, vs. 20, Luke 20:19.
a. The intent of the "plotters", Luke 19:39-40,47.
b. The "spies", Matt. 22:15-16.
i. The Pharisees.
ii. The Herodians.
c. The intended trap.
i. Feigned sincerity, Matt. 23:27-28.
ii. Laying a trap, Luke 23:26.
iii. The malicious intent.
iv. The desired result.
2. Strategic flattery, vs. 21.
a. The nature of the flattery.
i. An honorable (and true) address.
ii. Teaching the truth, Luke 1:25, 11:15-16,53-54.
iii. Without partiality, luke 11:45.
iv. The way of God.
b. Misunderstanding Jesus.
3. The question, vs. 22.
a. Analyzing the question.
i. The legality of the tax.
ii. The nature of the tax.
iii. Demanding an answer.
b. A question of authority.
4. Jesus' clear perception, vs. 23.
a. The historical perspective, Acts 5:29,37.
b. Reemphasizing the trap.
5. The object lesson of the denarius, vs. 24.
a. The silver denarius.
b. The image of oppression.
6. The answer, vs. 25.
a. Looking at the words.
i. The transitional "then".
ii. Defining "render".
iii. What things?
b. The things belonging to Caesar, Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21.
c. The things belonging to God.
7. The silence, vs. 26.
a. The failed objective.
b. When silence speaks volumes.
III. Application
A. Caesar's Delegated Authority.
1. Caesar has authority, Rom. 13:1-7; 1Pet. 2:17.
2. Caesar has boundaries.
B. Arrogated authority, Acts. 5:29.
C. The ultimate Authority.
IV. Conclusion, 1Pet. 2:13,16.
