2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. Children are able to trust and praise God without doubts or reservations. As we get older, many of us find this more and more difficult to do. Ask God to give you childlike faith, removing any barriers to having a closer walk with him. Get in touch with this childlike quality in yourself so that you can be more expressive. Verse and commentary above is copied from the Life Application Study Bible Reading Plan on YouVersion. Check it out at http://www.youversion.com/ .
Any Dr JOE comments will be in BLUE :0)
Luke 20:20-26
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.21 So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them,
24 "Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" "Caesar's," they replied.
25 He said to them, "Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Bible teaches in more than one place to live in obedience under the authority we are placed. Our nature is to do things our own way and not take orders from anyone, even God. We may not agree with our government or our boss, but according to Jesus we are to be good citizens and employees. There are certainly illegal or immoral situations where standing up against authority is required, but most often the injustice is our own feeling of not being treated fairly or with respect. God is ultimately in charge of justice and He will make all things right in the end. Meanwhile we are to use the Love of Jesus as our weapon against wrong.
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