“Citizens of the Kingdom of God”
BIBLE
READING: Matthew 22
Matthew 22:21
Speaking of taxes in our text,
Jesus taught His disciples to “render . . . to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's,” instructing His disciples to pay them. This teaching parallels the
general principle that Christians are to be subject to the governments of this
world (Romans 13:1)
yet to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).
In doing so, we are to be good citizens appreciating the privileges and
opportunities extended to us. We are to submit to the nation's laws and
regulations, as long as they do not conflict with the commands of God. If they
do, we must be willing to submit to their penalties.
Above all, Christians must follow
Christ's teaching and example. Jesus neither attempted to reform human
government nor use political means to forge a better world. Rather, He preached
the doctrine of a radically different world to come, calling His followers out
of this present evil world to allegiance to His coming Kingdom.
Jesus told Pilate that His Kingdom
was not of this world (John 18:36)—that
is, of the age or present time. This is Satan's world. Christ did not come to reform Satan or improve his handiwork, but to save us
from Satan and his system. A Christian is a citizen of the Kingdom
of God (Ephesians 2:19).
Christians are to be separate from
the world and its social, political, economic,
and religious affiliation. We live by
God's laws and give Him our sole allegiance since we cannot serve two masters.
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