Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

17 Then He looked at them and said, What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’?

18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people--for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the
governor.

21 Then they asked Him, saying, Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:

22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, Why do you test Me?

24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

25 And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

Introduction The religious rulers were questioning the right of Jesus to do the things He did, By what authority, and who gave you this authority? In our life on Earth, God
delegates authority to some human beings in various positions, and He expects us to submit to them.

1. The Purpose of Earthly Authority

Romans 13

13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on
him who practices evil.

5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

2. Authorities Instituted by God

a. Parents - Ephesians 6:1-4

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise:

3 that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

b. Teachers - Romans 13:7

7 Render therefore to all their due: ...customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

c. Pastors and Elders - Hebrews 13:7, 17

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for
that would be of no advantage to you.

d. Bosses - Ephesians 6:5-9

5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

e. Husbands - Ephesians 5:22, 25, 28, 33

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

f. Civil Government - Romans 13:1

13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

3. Getting Along With Caesar - Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-14, v24-25

Tit 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,

1Pe 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,

14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

25 And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

4. When Caesar Thinks He’s God

5. The Issue of Children v24-25

24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

25 And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

Whose image and inscription is on our children?

6. Civil Disobedience

a. Definition - refusal to obey an authority in extreme cases as a last resort

Romans 13:3

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.

b. Instances of rebellion against authority

Midwives in Egypt

Apostles in Acts 4:18-19, 5:27-29

Acts 4

18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

Acts 5

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

28 saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.

But some people rebel for petty reasons:

Romans 3:18

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

7. The Blessing of Honoring Authority

a. For us - If we obey the authorities, God honors us.

b. For leaders - It also makes it easier on those trying to lead.

Hebrews 13

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for
that would be of no advantage to you.