Rendering to Caesar

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

Chapter 1

Jesus had called the Pharisees hypocrites.

They didn’t like being called hypocrites.

One solution to the problem is if they’d just stop being hypocrites.  But they didn’t like that solution.  They had another solution in mind.

They were plotting to kill Jesus by building a legal case against him, and getting the Governor, Pontius Pilate to execute him.

So the Pharisees were always trying to get Jesus to say something they could use against him.

They also didn’t like it that Jesus hadn’t climbed their same ladder of success.  He hadn’t worked his way up like they had.

Of course, Jesus didn’t really need to do that, since he was by birth the very Son of God, and King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Jesus didn’t need to join their club, and had no interest in doing so.

There Jesus was, doing miracles.  That proves something, doesn’t it?

Yes it does, unless you happen to be a blind Pharisee.

So they asked him about paying taxes.

Here it is from Matthew chapter 22, from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, (Amazon.com).

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they could entangle him in his talk.

16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, nor do you care for any man, for you don't regard the person of men.

17 Tell us therefore, what do you think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you tempt me, you hypocrites?

19 Show me the tax money."  And they brought him a penny.

20 And he said to them, "Whose is this image and superscription?"

21 They said to him, "Caesar's."  Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

22 When they had heard these words, they were amazed, and left him, and went away.

Chapter 2

If you’re a Christian, if you’re following Jesus, Jesus wants you to pay whatever is the lawful and right amount of tax.

It takes money to operate a government.  Your tax money pays for that.

Of course, you can arrange your financial affairs such that you’ll pay as little tax as possible.

Rich people employ tax consultants for that purpose.

Or, there’s software available such as Turbo Tax that will try to help you find all the legal deductions.

Or, you could go to an outfit such as H & R Block, or many others.

I usually just get the forms and instructions from the Internal Revenue Service and do my own taxes.

There’s a toll-free phone number for that:  1 (800) TAX-FORM.

The Bible says we should obey every ordinance of man.  I try to do that.

But I won’t obey the recent law that says everyone must buy health insurance, since that law is illegal.  It is illegal because it is unconstitutional.  It is unconstitutional because it violates the Constitutional right of every American to Freedom of Religion.

I’m a Christian, therefore, the Lord is the Lord who heals me (Ex 15:26), the Lord forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psa 103:3), the Lord took my sins, and carried my diseases (Book of Matthew), by Jesus stripes I was healed (1 Pet 2:24), the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2), Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree, so that the blessing of Abraham would come on the Gentiles (Galatians chapter 3).

Sickness is part of the curse of the law, as we can see in Deuteronomy chapter 28.

Someone might say, “But don’t you know that the U. S. Supreme Court has ruled that Obamacare is Constitutional?”

Yes, I know that.  That was pretty sloppy judicial work.

The U. S. Supreme Court obviously didn’t look at all the relevant evidence.  Apparently, during the consideration of that case, no one at the Supreme Court bothered to open a Bible to see what God had to say on the subject.

But I’ve opened my Bible to see what God said.  If others won’t, that’s their problem, and God won’t overlook it.

If you’re going to leave God out of things, you’ll go astray.

And why should the Bible have been consulted?  Because the Bible is the foundation of two important religions:  Judaism, and Christianity.

The U. S. Supreme Court has run afoul of Judaism and Christianity by infringing against our Freedom of Religion in that they are presuming to supplant our healing from God with their very inferior healthcare from man.

In doing so, they have ruled an unconstitutional law to be Constitutional.

Someone might say, “But where did you get your law degree?”  No, I don’t have a law degree.  I have my A.U.G. degree (Approved Unto God, book of Timothy).

A twelve year old child could understand the concept.  God says, “I’m your healer.”  The Supreme Court says, “No, you have to buy healthcare.”

So then, who will prevail, God, or the U. S. Supreme Court?  Well, let me think for just a moment.  When Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt rose up against God’s people, who put him down?  God.

When Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the Chaldeans got too big for his britches, who put him down?  God.

When many nations came against ancient Israel, who put them down?  God.

Yes, I think I’ll put my trust in God, and not in his enemy in this matter, the U. S. Supreme Court.  They will not prevail.  God will prevail.  God will bring evil against those who have made that ruling.

What do you think, that you can spit at God and his people, and nothing will happen to you?

God will persuade you otherwise.

One of the Supreme Court Justices is Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  It was in the news lately that she performed a marriage between a same-sex couple.

Now that might be legal under man’s law, but it’s very much illegal under God’s laws, and I therefore petition the Court of Heaven for judgment against this wicked Ruth Bader Ginsburg for this flagrant violation of God’s laws.

The Bible says homosexuals can’t go to heaven in 1 Cor 6:9,10.  The King James Version uses the phrase “the effeminate,” which means homosexuals.

Romans chapter 1 condemns both male and female homosexuality.

But God has authorized sex the natural way between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

You can either do things God’s way, or God will hurt you.

A man once said, “Well, if I’m going to hell, I’ll have a lot of friends there.”  Yes, but once you get to hell, they won’t be your friends anymore.  They’ll be blaming you, and you’ll be blaming them for your being in hell.  There’s no friendship in hell.  Just torment, crying, gnashing of teeth, and insanity.

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor.  Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works?  Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all.  If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries?  Or a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from?  Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace.  So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers.  He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire.  You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure.  You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone merry?  Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.