Sunday, November 10, 2013

Irony of Ironies




The following was excerpted from an article by Rob Slane for American Vision.org:


"Jesus, the Son of God, is standing in the Temple of God a few days before his execution. The Pharisees and Herodians come along and, after attempting to flatter him, ask him a question of profound difficulty: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar?...

When they ask him the question, Jesus specifically asks them for a coin.

And He said to them, 'Whose likeness and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar's.' Then He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.' And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away. 
- Matthew 22:20-22

He has no real need to do this. He could have just made his point by mentioning the fact that they already use Caesar’s coin. So why does he do this?

I think he does it to make a point. When the coin is produced, there is a juxtaposition of immense proportions going on. The coin is brought out and Jesus asks them whose is the image and inscription on the coin.

We all know it was Caesar’s, but what is less well known is the inscription: “­AUGUSTUS TI CAESER DIVI AUG F” meaning “Augustus Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus”. On the flip side of the coin, there was almost certainly a picture of Tiberius dressed as a priest, with the title “PONTIFEX MAXIMUS” – High Priest.


So picture the scene.

There is the Son of God, the great High Priest, being asked by his enemies who hate him whether it is lawful to pay taxes to one who blasphemously pretends to be Son of God and great High Priest. 

The Pharisees understand the blasphemous pretentions to divinity of Caesar. What they don’t understand is their own blasphemies. 

They ask a question about paying tribute to little Caesar on his tiny coin, but the irony is they refuse to pay tribute to the eternal Son of God and High Priest who is standing in front of them."
 

Read the entire article HERE.



Have a blessed Lord's Day.





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13 comments:

  1. I hope you have blessed Sunday. I am going to enjoy this beautiful day....the sun(Son) is shining.xoxo,Susie

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  2. thanks for sharing the article and that photo of the coins. i liked seeing all those old coins.

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  3. Profound, as is everything our Lord and Savior teaches us (still). Great post, Judy.

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  4. Interesting post Judy, ex-RAF flyboy and I read it in turns.
    Blessings to you and yours,

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  5. Where ever did you find a photos of coins like that? May you have a blessed sabbath day.

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  6. I think we all can learn from this post you have written. How many times have we all done or said something, yet could also reflect upon ourselves and our own actions. I hope you are well! Enjoy this beautiful day!

    Mama Hen

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  7. Very interesting, Judy. I had never thought a out it this way.

    xo

    Sheila

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  8. I really did enjoy reading this and learning different things. Thanks. I hope you had a great Sunday. sandie

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  9. Judy- I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Sunday, too. The sun was shining on this side of the state today but not shining so brightly on the Packers game! xo Diana

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  10. Thank you for sharing that. There often is that irony when it comes to what the Pharisees believe and who Jesus is.

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  11. Beautiful! I'm always so happy to find a fellow sister in faith :)

    A new follower!

    Erin
    http://yellowbirchhobbyfarm.blogspot.com

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  12. It shouldn't, but it is amazing to see how the wisdom of God defeats the letter of the law people waiting to pounce on the slightest slip of a phrase.
    Then they go off … silenced !

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