October 1929
491
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
1 I n t e r n a t i o n a l L e s so n C om m e n ta r y By David L. Cooper
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Romans administered the government and demanded of the Jews in return the pay ment of taxes. The Jews always hated foreign domination. Any question per taining to the Román Government was a high explosive. The enemies of Jesus, realizing this fact, in a shrewd, cunning, and hypocritical way tried to catch some word from Him whereby they could ac cuse Him to the Romans. 2. Jesus’ Answer. Vs. 15b-17. Jesus, being God manifest in the flesh 'and knowing all things, was aware of their hypocrisy. Frequently men endeavor in a shrewd manner to cover up their motives, presenting a partial truth, at the same time withholding some facts which, if told, would put the matter in a true light, or presenting reasons which are absolutely false. Such conduct is base hypocrisy and abominable in God’s sight. Jesus was equal to the occasion and straightway charged them with their hy pocrisy, “Why make ye trial of me?” Then He commanded them to bring a denarius to Him in order that He might see it. He them called their attention to it by asking, “Whose is this image and superscription?” Immediately they re plied that it was Caesar’s. It is against the Jewish conscience to have images on coins; hence the use of these coins with images was a source of great annoyance to the Jews. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” This reply of Jesus astounded His opponents, who marveled greatly. Though the Romans had by force of arms conquered the Jews, the latter owed tribute to the Roman Government for the services which it rendered to them. Government is necessary for the well-, being and happiness of any community. A poor government is better than an archy. Government entails expense; therefore it was necessary that the Jews pay their tribute to Caesar in return for the services rendered by the government in the various departments. The Romans were noted for building good roads, some of which remain in Palestine to the pres ent day. They likewise patroled the coun try and kept peace. Another advantage was their splendid postal system. No true Christian can be in the center of God’s will and attempt to defraud the govern ment out of the just taxes. II. Good Citizenship According to Paul. Rom. 1*3:1-14. 1. Obedience to Civil Authorities En joined. Vs. 1-7. After the Flood (Gen. 9) God estab lished civil government and delegated to it the' right to punish the disorderly and disobedient ones. According to Dan. 2 God delegates the authority to rule .to certain ones, which teaching is in perfect harmony with Paul’s statement in Rom. 13, “The powers that be are ordained of
November 3, 1929 Respect For R ightful Authority (World’s Temperance Sunday) Scripture References: Mk. 12:13-17; Rom. 13:1-14; 1 Pet. 2:13-17. Devotional Reading: Matt. 5 :13-20. Golden Text: "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers', for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained o f God" (Rom. 13:1). L esson in O utline Introduction: Historical Setting. Beginning the LeSson. I. Go o d Citizenship According to Jesus. Mk. 12:13-17. 1. The Pharisees and Herodians At tempt to Ensnare Jesus. Vs. 13- 15a. 2. Jesus’ Answer. Vs. 15b-17. II. Good Citizenship According to Paul. Rom. 13:1-14. 1. Obedience to Civil Authorities Enjoined. Vs. 1-7. 2. , Love a Lasting Obligation. Vs. 8-1Q. 3. Purity of Life Exhorted. Vs. 11- 14. III. Good Citizenship According to Pe ter. 1 Pet. 2 :13-17. — o — Introduction: Historical Setting. 'T'HE attack of the Pharisees and .Hero- dians (Mk. 12:13-17) upon Jesus, oc curred at the Passover at which He was crucified, probably on the last day before His arrest. The temple was the scene of the first epistle of Peter (2:13-17) was written by Peter to Jewish believers in five different provinces of Asia Minor be tween 64 and 68 A.D. The occasion of his writing it was largely to emphasize the pilgrim nature of the Christian life and to encourage them in enduring the suffer ings which were breaking forth upon them. Beginning the Lesson. Children mimic older people. It would stimulate interest amongMthe younger ones for the teacher to have the pupils relate t h e i r experiences in playing “school,” “church,” etc. Especially draw them out upon the idea of how they felt when some of the playmates disregarded the rules. the encounter. The passage from Ro mans (13 :1-14) was written by P a u l from Corinth to the c h u r c h at Rome a r o u n d the first part of the year 58. The passage from
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTL INE L o v e t a w ib e r t y L ic e n s e Love is the fulfilling of the law. —Rom. 13:10.
For the older ones who have gone to school, interest may be stimulated by a brief study of the schoolroom and the discipline that is necessary in order that each may do his work properly, and in order that there may be cooperation and progress. I. Good Citizenship According to Jesus. Mk. 12:13-17. 1. The Pharisees and Herodians At tempt to Ensnare Jesus. Vs. 13- 15-a. The Jews were divided into four dif ferent sects, or parties: the Pharisees, the most numerous, who were the especially religious ones, believing in spirits, angels, and the future life; the Sadducees, the minority, who were materialistic philoso phers and in whose number the rich of the land were included; the Herodians, more a political sect than religious, who cared little for religion but who were in favor of the Roman domination rather than the government by the Jewish high priest; and the Essenes, a monastic brotherhood, who practiced a rigid asceti cism and who believed in visions and spiritual communications. On the occasion of this lesson the Pharisees and Herodians, with hypocrisy in their hearts, came to Jesus, compli menting Him with flattering words: .“ Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest not for any one; for thou re- gardest not the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God.” What they said was true, but they did not ex press these sentiments because they thought they were true but as mere flat tery. Had they believed what they spoke they would not have attempted to en snare Him in His speech, for they would have realized that this was impossible. God detests flattering lips and a lying tongue. Unfortunately flattery is in vogue among many who profess the name of Christ. The repeated exhortation of Scripture is that each man speak truth with his neighbor and that one be sincere and honest, providing things honest both in the sight of God and of man. “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, I or notf” ,In the year 63 B. C. the Romans under Pompey were invited by a party of the Jews to settle a dispute. Taking ad vantage of the situation, Pompey con quered the Jews and brought them under the domination of Rome. From that time on Palestine was a Roman province. The
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