Who or What Belongs to Who or What?

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Meeemeep! This sermon is from Sunday October 19, 2008. Stay blessed...john



Matthew 22:15-22

Paying Taxes to Caesar
15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap
him in his words. 16They 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. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it
right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
18But Jesus, knowing their evil
intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin
used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and 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."

22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1Paul, Silas[a]
and Timothy, To the church of the
Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.[b]
Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith 2We always thank God for all
of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3We continually remember before our God
and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your
endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4For we know,
brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you
not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep
conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You became imitators
of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message
with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the
believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from you not
only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report
what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he
raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.