Passage: Luke 20:19-26
Service Type:

Intro: A child asked his mother, "How were people born?" So his mother said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on." The child then went to his father, asked him the same question and he told him, "We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now." The child ran back to his mother and said, "You lied to me!" His mother replied, "No, your dad was talking about his side of the family."

* stand and read Luke 20:19-26 (switch slide after v.22)


This governor was Pilate and shortly, they would do exactly that. 

They feared the people, so they pretended

Example: Chinese Movie, Farewell, about using a wedding as a cover-up for a last goodbye to the Gramma with terminal cancer, but not telling her.

The reason to gather the people (wedding) and the real reason (cancer).

1. Fear leads to pretense

Pretense comes from pretend.

(an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true)

The reverse it also true: Pretense leads to fear of being FOUND OUT.


2 Timothy 3:12-13

They needed a reason to arrest him. 

Jesus was breaking the law by blaspheming. 

(the reason they would give for killing Jesus)

They wanted him gone and would say or do anything to make it happen. 

(the real reason)

Review: Fear leads to pretending to be something I’m not. 

“We are only as sick as our secrets.”

~ Anonymous

Example: What if every place you went on the internet?

With nothing to hide, there is no fear.



“They smear honey around his mouth.”

Flattery - excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests.

2. Flattery warns of foul play.

Why tribute to Caesar?

** Background about Rome and the Jews

Flattery and then the question:

A “loose, loose” for Jesus… either way: 

1. Say Roman taxes are good and alienate the people. 

2. Say they don’t have to pay Rome and be guilty of leading a rebellion.

But… was there a third option? No answer.

3. Wisdom doesn’t need to justify itself.

Example: Eve’s biggest mistake in the Garden was engaging with the devil. 


She opened herself up to deception by talking with him at all.

He was mistaken so she would set him straight. 


Example: Steve Lee, “We missed you at the meeting Tuesday night.” 

Me, “I was at church and couldn’t be here and there at the same time.” 

Steve, “I didn’t ask where you were. I just missed you.”

I made an excuse without being accused.

Jesus’ identity was secure without the approval of man. 

23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 


The mark of God… Freedom, not FEAR.

4. Two marks of Jesus are freedom and responsibility.

People often say this means, “Pay your taxes.”

But does it say “Pay your taxes.” ?

Take this one here. 


John 21:22-23 NIV

Be careful not to go beyond what is written.

It’s easy to go beyond what’s written under pressure. 

What did Jesus say?



Ask yourself, what is God’s and what is Caesar’s? 

Then act accordingly. 

What comes next?


Luke 21:1-4

5. The message of Jesus simplifies life.

The Pharisees complicated everything. 

Paul kept it simple.

1 Corinthians 2:2

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