Pay Attention

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

PAY ATTENTION

Matt 22:15-22

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"  21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

NIV

We certainly have heard enough about giving onto God that which is God’s and give onto Caesar what is Caesar’s. The fact that we are the creation of God and a coin is a creation of the government should be plain enough for us to understand we should be giving ourselves to God. This would also mean we give the government what it is due. But the point Jesus was making was about man being God’s creation and we should give him that which he created. However there is something else which strikes a chord in this passage. When the disciples of the Pharisees along with the Herodians came to Jesus, their words might have been nothing more than platitudes in order to get him off guard to their real intent of trapping him. First the idea they told him he was a man of integrity and that he taught the way of God in accordance with the truth. The second thing they said was that he was not swayed by men because he did not pay attention to who they were. This is what we should take as a lesson for life. First we need to be people of integrity which is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. But along with that quality we should not be swayed by men. The reason they said Jesus was not swayed is because he did not pay attention to who they were. That should be something we should strive for as well. The fact is we do pay attention to who people are too much. We think because they have a degree in this or that they are someone who we should allow to sway the way we think about God, our relationship with God, and what the truth of God says about our life. Some people simply have what is referred to as silver tongues. They speak slick words which sound good, but may not be the whole truth or even the truth at all. We should not lift any person up as one to listen because of who they are. Jesus did not, nor should we. He gave the Spirit to all of us to lead all of us into all the truth. God does not show favoritism. He does not give one more truth than another. True, it seems some people have a great deal of knowledge. Some have studied far more than others. Some have educational training in various areas where others do not. Yet are we not all simply children of God? Are we not all going to receive the same reward, eternal life? So then let no person sway us off the course God has set before us. We might encounter all sorts of people, both believers and non-believers who attempt to sway our beliefs which have been imparted by the Spirit. Does that mean other believers are in error in their doctrine or beliefs? We cannot speak to that issue for we are not to judge. But what we can be certain is that we should not allow them to sway us off that path God has set before us. We should not be trapped by good sounding arguments either from the non-believer, nor the believer who differs in their understanding of the truth then we do. That would be being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Eph 4:14

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

NIV

This is being an infant who is dependent upon other people for everything. But we are to grow up and be connected to the Head, which is Christ.

Eph 4:15-16

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

NIV

The head is which gives direction to the whole body. The hand does not direct the foot nor vice versa. The head gives all directions, therefore we pay no attention to the words of men, but only that which is the word of God. Do some have good insights into the word? Absolutely. Yet we are also admonished to test everything.

1 Thess 5:16-24

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything . Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

NIV

We are to be connected to Christ, the head of his body and all truth flows from him.  Therefore we test all that we hear from the mouths of men against that which flows from the mouth of God. To this we pay attention.