Was Jesus Involved Was Jesus Involved in Politics?in Politics?

That’s all well and good, but That’s all well and good, but Jesus didn’t get involved in Jesus didn’t get involved in Politics. He didn’t try to Politics. He didn’t try to

change the Roman law. He change the Roman law. He said, “Give to Caesar what is said, “Give to Caesar what is

Caesar’s and give to God Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” If Jesus what is God’s” If Jesus

didn’t do it, then we didn’t do it, then we shouldn’t either! – College shouldn’t either! – College

CoedCoed

Objection Objection

If Jesus did not do If Jesus did not do something, does that mean something, does that mean we should not do it either?we should not do it either?

The Romans violently killed people The Romans violently killed people but Jesus never condemns them. but Jesus never condemns them. Should we then allow people to kill Should we then allow people to kill others?others?

Slavery was everywhere but Jesus Slavery was everywhere but Jesus didn’t say to free them. Was Jesus didn’t say to free them. Was Jesus condoning racism and slavery?condoning racism and slavery?

Jesus never married. Does that mean Jesus never married. Does that mean we should not marry? we should not marry?

Objection: Jesus didn’t Objection: Jesus didn’t try to change the Roman try to change the Roman

lawlaw Was Jesus a Roman citizen?Was Jesus a Roman citizen? What nationality was Jesus?What nationality was Jesus? Could any Jew approach Caesar Could any Jew approach Caesar

or Roman Politicians?or Roman Politicians?

Judea still had it’s own Judea still had it’s own government under Roman government under Roman

occupationoccupation Read Acts 5:17-29Read Acts 5:17-29 King Herod has his own ArmyKing Herod has his own Army So Jesus could not be involved in So Jesus could not be involved in

Roman politics but was He Roman politics but was He involved in Jewish politics?involved in Jewish politics?

If so, who then were His If so, who then were His senators and representatives?senators and representatives?

Sanhedrin = sitting Sanhedrin = sitting togethertogether

Total number = 71Total number = 71 Supreme Court & Legislative BodySupreme Court & Legislative Body They make the lesser laws They make the lesser laws

subservient to their constitutionsubservient to their constitution

Who were the Who were the Sanhedrin?Sanhedrin?

Who were these men that were Who were these men that were senators and lawmakers of the Jews?senators and lawmakers of the Jews?

Do we ever hear about them in the Do we ever hear about them in the Bible?Bible?

Did Jesus ever talk to them? OR as Did Jesus ever talk to them? OR as some Christians claim…some Christians claim…

Did Jesus stay far away from them Did Jesus stay far away from them because they were too worldly?because they were too worldly?

The Pharisees and The Pharisees and SadduceesSadducees

Acts 23, John 11:47, Acts 4:1, Acts 5:29-Acts 23, John 11:47, Acts 4:1, Acts 5:29-4141

So other than the Apostles, what leaders So other than the Apostles, what leaders did Jesus interact with? Whom did He did Jesus interact with? Whom did He advise, admonish, condemn, chastise?advise, admonish, condemn, chastise?

Did you ever hear of Did you ever hear of this man of the this man of the

Pharisees?Pharisees?

1 - Now there was a man 1 - Now there was a man of the Phariseesof the Pharisees, , named Nicodemus, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jewsa ruler of the Jews; ;

2 - this man came to Jesus by night and said 2 - this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is do these signs that You do unless God is with him." with him."

3 - Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, 3 - Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John Ch. 3Ch. 3

Objection: The Sanhedrin Objection: The Sanhedrin were in charge of Religious were in charge of Religious

laws onlylaws only ““All religious matters and all All religious matters and all civilcivil

matters not claimed by Roman matters not claimed by Roman authority were within the authority were within the Sanhedrin’s attributions; and the Sanhedrin’s attributions; and the decisions issued by it’s judges were decisions issued by it’s judges were to be held inviolable.” – Jewish to be held inviolable.” – Jewish Historian Reifmann in 1888Historian Reifmann in 1888

Objection: The Sanhedrin Objection: The Sanhedrin were in charge of Religious were in charge of Religious

laws onlylaws only ““We know that Paul was a Pharisee, We know that Paul was a Pharisee,

and a member of the Sanhedrin, and and a member of the Sanhedrin, and that the Sanhedrin had legislative, that the Sanhedrin had legislative, executive, judicial, civil, criminal, executive, judicial, civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical power under the and ecclesiastical power under the Romans….” - The Trial of Christ, by Romans….” - The Trial of Christ, by David K. Breed in 1948David K. Breed in 1948

Jesus was involved in Jesus was involved in PoliticsPolitics

So we know from the Bible that Jesus So we know from the Bible that Jesus was always talking to Sanhedrin was always talking to Sanhedrin individuals.individuals.

He would have tried to influence He would have tried to influence them.them.

He called them to account.He called them to account. He showed them that many of their He showed them that many of their

religious and civil laws were wrong religious and civil laws were wrong and overly numerous.and overly numerous.

Are all Pharisees bad?Are all Pharisees bad?

The word Pharisee is incorrectly used by The word Pharisee is incorrectly used by Christians today. They were not all bad.Christians today. They were not all bad.

Jesus only chastised the bad politicians Jesus only chastised the bad politicians but worked with the good onesbut worked with the good ones

Gamaliel was good! - Read Acts 5:34-40 Gamaliel was good! - Read Acts 5:34-40 Nicodemus was good!Nicodemus was good! Joseph of Arimathea was good!Joseph of Arimathea was good! Likely some others were also good.Likely some others were also good.

WWJD?WWJD?

Luke 13:31Luke 13:31 - Just at that time some - Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Pharisees approached, saying to Him, "Go away, leave here, for Him, "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You." Herod wants to kill You."

Luke 13:32 - And He said to them, Luke 13:32 - And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.'reach My goal.'

WWJD?WWJD?

Mat 23:27 – “Woe to you, scribes and Mat 23:27 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.”dead men's bones and all uncleanness.”

Mat 23:33 – “You serpents, you brood of Mat 23:33 – “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”of hell?”

Objection: Jesus only dealt Objection: Jesus only dealt with religious laws, not civil with religious laws, not civil

lawslaws Mat 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes Mat 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes

and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: provisions of the law: justicejustice and and mercymercy and and faithfulnessfaithfulness; but these ; but these are the things you should have done are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”without neglecting the others.”

What about Caesar?What about Caesar? Mat 22:17-21Mat 22:17-21 – “Tell us then, what do You – “Tell us then, what do You

think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?“ But Jesus perceived their Caesar, or not?“ But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?“ They said likeness and inscription is this?“ They said to Him, “Caesar's.” Then He said to them, to Him, “Caesar's.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.”God's.”

What about Caesar?What about Caesar?

Where does it say to NOT give to Caesar Where does it say to NOT give to Caesar what is his?what is his?

““Tell us then, what do You think? Is it Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to be lawful to be involved in politicsinvolved in politics, or not?“ , or not?“ - v. 17- v. 17

Then He said to them, "Then render unto Then He said to them, "Then render unto the involvement in politicsthe involvement in politics the things the things that are that are due the involvement in politicsdue the involvement in politics; ; and to God the things that are God's." – and to God the things that are God's." – v. 21bv. 21b

Who is Caesar today in Who is Caesar today in the US?the US?

““It might also help to realize that we do It might also help to realize that we do not live under Caesar. Our civil rulers not live under Caesar. Our civil rulers took an oath to uphold the Constitution, took an oath to uphold the Constitution, which is the “supreme law of the land.” which is the “supreme law of the land.” Neither the president nor the members of Neither the president nor the members of Congress are Caesar. If we have a Congress are Caesar. If we have a “Caesar,” it is the United States “Caesar,” it is the United States Constitution. But even the Constitution Constitution. But even the Constitution recognizes its own limits and the right of recognizes its own limits and the right of the people to express their grievances, the people to express their grievances, vote corrupt and oath-breaking rulers out vote corrupt and oath-breaking rulers out of office, and change existing laws.” – of office, and change existing laws.” – Author Gary DeMarAuthor Gary DeMar

Jesus IS involved in Jesus IS involved in Politics!Politics!

Was Jesus involved when William Was Jesus involved when William Wilberforce spent 47 political years to Wilberforce spent 47 political years to end England’s slave trade?end England’s slave trade?

How about when racial discrimination How about when racial discrimination was made illegal?was made illegal?

Did He care when abortion was made Did He care when abortion was made legal?legal?

Did He care when true Christians stayed Did He care when true Christians stayed out of politics when Hitler took power?out of politics when Hitler took power?

If He is concerned with the least of us, If He is concerned with the least of us, can He fail to be involved in Politics can He fail to be involved in Politics today?today?

ConclusionConclusion

The wicked shall be turned into hell, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. – and all the nations that forget God. – Psalm 9:17 KJVPsalm 9:17 KJV