The Dirt Belongs to God

• Second Sunday of Lent

Matthew 22:15-22

with Philippians 3:17 – 4:1

www.FirstChurchBville.com   @FirstUMCBville  @kerrfunk

Some scientists figured out how to make life, and they wanted to demonstrate their new skills to God. So God and the scientists met for a showdown. But when the scientists reached for some dirt to begin with, God said, “You can’t start with that, that’s mine.
You have to make your own dirt.”

The dirt belongs to God.

•The dirt belongs to God. The last few parables have had to do with productivity and a harvest for God. God is a landowner, God planted a vineyard, God is looking for a harvest of righteousness. We are the workers. A disciple is a faithful, obedient, productive worker in God’s vineyard, in God’s dirt. And from last week’s reading, a disciple wears the garments of righteousness. A disciple looks Christ-like. A disciple acts Christ-like.

•In today’s reading some Pharisees seek to trap Jesus,
either into pledging allegiance to Caesar (or something with a graven image) or to have him align himself as anti-government.

Jesus deftly bats the trap aside.

“This has Caesar’s mark on it. Give it back to him.”

“And the stuff that has God’s mark on it? Give it back to God.”

•What’s the stuff that has God’s mark on it?
Humankind. Made in the image of God.
Give humankind back to God. Be imitators of Christ. 

Have the mind of Christ.

•I thought about discipleship and the gospel of Matthew and why Jesus came… what was Jesus’ mission?

Some ready thoughts: Seek/save lost (Lk 19:10). Life abundant (Jn 10:10).
Do will of Father (Jn 4:34). Be about Father’s business (Lk 2:49).   John 3:16.

But what about Matthew’s gospel?
Three of Jesus’ stated mission statements in Matthew: to fulfill law (5:17),
to call sinners (to discipleship) (Matt 9:13) and as a ransom for many (20:28).

•Scan of the narrative, study what Jesus does, why he came.
Teach. Heal. Lead. Preach. Cleanse. Guide. Teach. Save. Heal. Impart wisdom. Redeem. Preach. Encourage righteousness. Heal. Teach. Direct. Orient. Lead. Revive. Transform. Teach.

There’s a lot of teaching and healing in there. And a lot of leading.

•Give God’s stuff (that is, yourself) back to God
by following Jesus. Being a disciple, being a learner & doer, teaching the way to others.    Being a faithful obedient productive worker in God’s dirt.

•Study. Fellowship. Reach out. Engage. Get hands dirty.

• Hymn insert The Church of Christ in Every Age 

Philippians 3:17 – 4:1      (Common English Bible)

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. ¹⁸ As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. ¹⁹ Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. ²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.

4 Therefore, beloved brothers and sisters whom I love and miss, who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord.

Matthew 22:15-22     (Common English Bible)

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. ¹⁷ So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ Knowing their evil motives,
Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 

¹⁹ Show me the coin used to pay the tax.”
And they brought him a denarion. 

²⁰ “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked.

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and give to God what belongs to God.” 

²² When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.