The Lutheran Hour
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"Nailed To The Wall"
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Text: Matthew 22:18
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! If your life is filled with doubt and denial; if you are lonely and lost; if you seem to be searching but never finding; today see the crucified Christ, the risen Redeemer. The living Lord sends His Holy Spirit into the world to call sinful souls to forgiveness and salvation. Grant, dear Lord, we hear this call. Amen.
Back when I was in high school, many, many years ago, I remember one of my professors talking about questions for which there were no right answers. By way of illustration he referred to a courtroom – a courtroom where a man was being grilled about his temper. The judge had instructed him to confine his answers to a simple “yes” or “no.” The attorney, who was pushing hard for the man’s conviction, said, “Tell me, sir, have you stopped beating your wife yet? And remember, the court has instructed you to answer with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.'” Think about it. Think about the man’s choices. He’s been pinned to the wall. If he says, ‘Yes, I’ve stopped beating my wife,’ that means he used to beat her. If he says, ‘No,’ it means the beatings are ongoing. The man is pinned to the wall. At that time I thought, “Thank heaven life isn’t a courtroom with just ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers.”
Then I got married – to a wonderful woman – better than I ever could have asked for; and according to the opinion of all those around me, far better than I deserved. Even so, there are times when I’ve felt pinned to the wall by a question Pam has asked. The other day we were invited out for dinner. I wasn’t sure if it was fancy or more casual. I chose casual. After I was dressed, I went out for inspection. She smiled; but it wasn’t the smile which said, “Darling, after all these years you are still the man of my dreams.” Then, still wearing the smile, she asked: “Are you going to be wearing that?” Seven words. You don’t have to count them – it’s seven. Replying to that question would have been foolish. I knew what those seven words meant. Without replying I turned around and went to change.
Since that day I’ve gone around Lutheran Hour Headquarters and asked some of the ladies if they could think of any questions which men should never answer – questions which, no matter which way he might reply, he is going to get nailed to the wall. I thought it would be a difficult assignment. It wasn’t. Those Lutheran Hour ladies ran off a series of questions faster than I could write them down. Amazingly, young or not so young, married for many years or single, the questions they came up with were pretty much the same. If I were to stop right now and ask you ladies who are listening to give your fellas a list, you could do it, couldn’t you?
Since radio is a one-way medium, may I share the list of questions I received? At the top of the list of questions which will get a man nailed to the wall is: “Do these jeans… Does this dress… Do these shorts… make me look fat?” The correct response to such a question is to clutch your left arm, gasp for air, and fall to the floor. Let the paramedics take you to the hospital, but do not give a reply. An answer, any answer, will get you nailed to the wall. Here’s another question you don’t want to answer: “Do you like your mother’s spaghetti sauce better than mine?”
When a pretty girl goes walking down the street, your wife may be one half mile away, facing the other direction, but she will know you were looking. She will make a beeline back to you and ask a number of questions. The first will be, “Were you looking at her?” The next is: “Do you think she’s pretty?” The third will be the killer, “Do you think she’s prettier – or younger – than I am?” Don’t answer – and above all don’t respond when your wife asks, “What would you do if I died? Would you remarry? Would you fall in love again? Would you live in our house?” In truth there may be men of Solomonic wisdom who can answer such questions without being sent to garage or basement workshop, but I am not one of them.
If you understand that principle, and I hope you do, you will easily grasp the underhanded forces at work the day Jesus was asked a question which was designed to nail Him to the wall. The event was recorded by Matthew in the 22nd chapter of his narrative of Jesus’ life. Now, most people today, when they think of Jesus – if they think of Jesus – believe He was a nice fellow, a good guy, gentle, kindly, loving, and accepting of everyone. And it’s true, Jesus was all of those things if you were a person who needed Him – if you were an individual who acknowledged your imperfection and need for the forgiveness and salvation which He alone provides.
On the other hand, if you were someone who thought you had the ability to look God in the eye without flinching; if you thought you had your act together; if you believed you could make up rules, pretend those rules had come from God, and demand everyone obey them; you would quickly find Jesus had no problem leaving “meek” and “mild” behind. If you felt quite comfortable designating yourself to be God’s protector and the self-appointed judge of others; if you had no difficulty condemning things which God had never condemned, of putting down people who didn’t live up to your standard, you would have been surprised to find Jesus could be a most formidable foe. Quite publicly, quite effectively, and quite frequently, Jesus took apart proud posers, pretentious pretenders, and pompous posturers like the Pharisees. He showed no reluctance in exposing them, and others like them as the “brood of vipers,” the “hypocrites,” and “blind guides” which they were (see Matthew 23).
Understanding this, you will not be surprised to hear that the Pharisees never considered Jesus to be their friend. Indeed, almost from the beginning of the Savior’s ministry, the Pharisees singled Him out for examination and then, finding Him a force who would not – could not – be contained, they condemned Him. If Jesus gave a lecture, they were listening, taking notes, questioning. If Jesus performed some miracle, some healing of body or soul, the Pharisees examined that miracle, evaluated that miracle, and more often than not, expressed their displeasure and disapproval of the miracle Jesus had done.
For years the ever-escalating battle between Jesus and the Pharisees – the conflict between the Christ and His critics – was waged. The Pharisees were constant in their attacks, consistent with their negative comments, their condemnations and censures. It must have been frustrating for them. When their corporate headquarters in Jerusalem sent out some shrewd fellows with a question designed to discredit the Christ, those fellows, not He, ended up getting nailed to the wall. When they were positive they could accuse Jesus of having violated some law, He always managed to defend Himself and, at the same time, expose them as being petty and intolerant.
They tried to disgrace Jesus by discrediting His disciples; they tried to shame the Savior by heaping scorn on the sinners whom He had saved; they tried to poke holes in His teachings; and they even called Him bad names. They did anything, everything, they could think of to nail Jesus to the wall; and everything they tried somehow ended up in failure. Jesus was always faster, smarter, quicker, “righter,” than they were. It was almost as if He knew what they were thinking before they did; almost as if He knew what they would do before they tried it; which, of course, is exactly what happened. Since Jesus was the all-knowing Son of God, He knew their plots, their plans, their schemes. It must have been terribly frustrating.
There is an old expression in politics which says: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Raise up a Hitler who wants to rule the world and you will soon see nations like communist Russia, democratic America, and Britain’s Commonwealth set aside past differences so they can call each other friend and ally. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
It was no different in the days of Jesus. The Pharisees searched for a way – a foolproof, infallible way – to get rid of Jesus for once, for all. In that cause, they enlisted a political organization called the Herodians. The Pharisees who hated Roman rule and custom came together with the Herodians who embraced and promoted it. Normally, representatives from these opposing organizations would never have nodded to each other. Still, extreme times called for extreme measures, and both parties agreed Jesus had to be silenced. It was the first time such an alliance was made against the Christ – it was not the last. Look to the countries of the modern Mid-East, Africa, and Asia. Look and you will see a great many governments joining with a religion to keep Christ contained and His messengers muffled. Look to our nations in North America where courts, legislators, educators, and so-called free-thinkers, are uniting to silence the Savior and contain the message of salvation His church has been entrusted to convey. The enemy of my enemy…
The Pharisees, with Herodians in tow, went to Jesus and placed before Him a question they felt certain would nail Him to the wall. After some serious buttering up, they asked, “Tell us wise Teacher, is it right for a person to pay taxes to the Roman government?” It seems like an innocent query, but it is cut from the same bolt of cloth as the lawyer who asked, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” It is the same kind of question which is used by modern day doubters to challenge Christ’s followers. Today they ask, “Tell us, if God is so kind, how come He has allowed this war, this flood, this fire, this earthquake, this hurricane, this tornado, this auto accident, this murder?” Or, “If your God is a God of love, how could He be so cruel as to ever think of sending someone to hell?” Such questions are always designed to create doubt, to cause distrust and disbelief, to nail Christians to the wall.
Back then it was, “Tell us, Jesus, should we pay taxes to Caesar?” No matter which way Jesus answered, He was nailed to the wall. If He said, “No, you shouldn’t pay taxes to the Romans,” the Herodians would go ballistic, report Him to the authorities; and the authorities would cart Him away, maybe even crucify Him for insurrection. On the other hand, if Jesus said, “By all means, as good citizens we ought to pay taxes to Rome,” the Pharisees would have made sure His remark was heard by every citizen in every village and hamlet of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. Most certainly, Jesus’ unpatriotic opinion would have dropped Him in the popularity polls; quite probably it might have made Him target for a zealot’s dagger.
“Tell us, Jesus, should we pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Fortunately, there was no judge to order: “Jesus, answer the question with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No.'” Understanding the hidden intent of what was being asked, and with freedom to respond as He wished, Jesus began, “You two-faced hypocrites, why are you building Me up with your greeting and at the same time hoping to bring Me down with your question?” Then He called for a coin, a Roman denarius. A denarius was a common bit of cash, worth just about the amount a laborer would earn in a day. It was also a coin which featured the head of a Roman god or emperor. The denarius was given to the Lord and holding it, He asked, “Tell Me, whose face do you see on this coin?” The people didn’t have to look; they knew. “Caesar’s face” was their reply. With Caesar’s face and that fact established, Jesus answered the question designed to nail Him to the wall. He said, “Look, this coin is Caesar’s. Caesar minted it; Caesar’s face is on it; Caesar’s inscription decorates it. This coin belongs to Caesar. I think you ought to give Caesar that which belongs to him.” It was the moment the Pharisees had waited for. Now all they had to do is make sure Jesus’ words nailed Him to the wall. Indeed, those words would have done just that if He had stopped there. But Jesus didn’t stop there; He added, “And… and along with giving Caesar what you owe him, you also ought to give God the things which are His.”
The bait had been loaded, the trap had been placed, and when it was sprung, well, Jesus hadn’t been caught; He hadn’t been nailed to the wall. On the contrary, His answer contained wise and wonderful directions which His people have tried to follow from that day till this. In His reply, Jesus let His faithful friends know that they were blessed to have citizenship in two different kingdoms: one earthly, one heavenly. Hearing what the Savior had said, God’s people in every nation and every generation have done their best to be faithful citizens of both. Although the world delights in pointing to those of us who mess up, most of us pay taxes which our governments levy; we try to obey the laws; we try, in almost every way, to live as moral and honorable members of our countries.
I say “in almost every way” because Christians are given the primary duty to live as citizens of God’s kingdom and as members of His family. First, and foremost, and always, our loyalty is to the Lord who sent His Son to live for us, to die for us, to rise for us. When forced to choose between God’s will and the world’s way, those who have been saved by Jesus need not think twice. They know citizens in Christ’s kingdom wish to do their best and avoid everything which contradicts the will and wishes of their Lord.
Knowing a Christian’s first loyalty must be to their Savior and the sharing of His story of salvation their prime priority, when Peter and John were told to quit preaching salvation through the crucified Christ, the risen Lord; without hesitation they proclaimed: “Sorry, we can’t do that; we have to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). When God’s people were being persecuted in Rome, St. Paul wrote to that church and said: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). When conflict comes, Christians know and believe their first loyalty is to the Lord.
Thankfully, there are many times when Christians are able to live in harmony with their nation’s leaders and country’s direction. Of course, that doesn’t mean everybody approves of us. Sometimes our faithfulness to the Lord and the fulfillment of our patriotic duty ends up giving us the reputation of being stuffy traditionalists and old-fashioned moralists. Indeed, if you listen to today’s news, you may well hear a reporter, commentator, or editorialist, generalizing about us in a way he would do for no one else. Listen and you will hear frequent references to Christians being the “the religious right, a cadre of conservative evangelicals.” They almost make us sound as if we had contracted some sort of loathsome and disgusting disease. Today I want you to know, Christianity isn’t a disease, it is only a desire to respond in love to the Lord Jesus Christ who first loved us – who first loved us.
We started out today’s message talking about questions which will get you nailed to the wall. I’d like to finish talking about that same subject. I’d like to tell you of a question Jesus answered which got Him nailed not to a wall, but to a cross. The day came when His enemies threw caution to the winds. They bribed one of the Savior’s friends to betray Him; paid some witnesses to tell lies about Him; and raced Him through a series of illegal trials. At one of those midnight meetings, Jesus was asked, “Are you the Christ, God’s promised Messiah, the world’s Savior, the One who is sent to save us?” Jesus might have tried to sidestep the question; He might have tried to turn the tables. He might have, but He didn’t. He answered, and Matthew tells us how His judges responded to His answer. It says this: Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard His blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” They spit in His face and struck Him. And some slapped Him (Matthew 26:65-67). Later they crucified Him. Jesus’ answer nailed Him to a cross. On Calvary’s cross He died so all who believe on Him might live. Nailed to a cross He put an end to the condemnation of sin and the claims of Satan. Nailed to a cross Jesus gave Himself as the ransom price for our deliverance. Then, on Resurrection Sunday He let the world know what hell had already discovered: death had been defeated. The cross is what Jesus endured so we might be members of the heavenly kingdom.
Questions – questions which will get you nailed to the wall. Let me ask: Do you know anyone who loves you as Jesus did? Is there anyone else who offers absolute forgiveness, total peace, and eternal joy? Do you know anyone who can offer help for today and hope for eternity? If you cannot readily give an answer, let me ask this final question: Why do you not believe? It is not a question designed to nail you to the wall; it is one I ask to get you out of hell. To that end, if we can help, please call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for October 19, 2008
Topic: Jesus’ “Wasted” Years?ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus responds to questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer. Today’s questions are a follow-up to a topic we dealt with not so long ago. You might recall the one about religious conspiracy theories? Our listener says, “I know people who love to pounce on any news about church or religion. Recently my friends watched a television program that said Jesus went on a spiritual quest to the Far East, where He learned all the stuff that He then used to make up His own religion.”
KLAUS: And I can say there is absolutely no evidence that that ever happened.
ANNOUNCER: Well, supposedly this took place sometime between the years when Jesus was 12 to 30 years of age – those years the Bible doesn’t speak about. Our listener tried telling his friends that if God really wanted us to know the answer to all these questions, He would have had the disciples tell us. They didn’t like that answer. Also, while we’re talking about this, why didn’t Jesus start His ministry earlier? Why did He wait until He was 30 years old?
KLAUS: Mark, the Bible is silent, but there are certain things which give us clues as to what Jesus did during those years. First, we read that it was the family’s custom to go to Jerusalem every year. The Bible tells what happened the year when Jesus was 12, but it would have been their custom before that and after that. Second, the Gospel of Luke says Jesus “went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. …And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51,52.) Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and respected his parents… where? In Nazareth, He couldn’t have done that when He was in the Far East. Then there is the time Jesus preached in His hometown of Nazareth. They all recognized Him as the son of Joseph the carpenter. We have every reason to believe Jesus grew up and stayed in that town as an apprentice carpenter. There is certainly no reliable source which points to any other possibility.
ANNOUNCER: And why did Jesus wait so long before He began His ministry? Thirty seems pretty old to begin something like that.
KLAUS: There are a number of reasons to that, too. First, just because Jesus wasn’t teaching or preaching publicly, that doesn’t mean He wasn’t doing His Father’s work. Every sinless day Jesus lived, He was fulfilling the Father’s plan through His active obedience to the Will of God.
Second, before Jesus could start His active, public ministry, it was necessary, according to prophecy, for the forerunner to appear. John the Baptist had to get out there and prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. John’s call to repentance first had to be heard.
ANNOUNCER: But still, why wait so long? Couldn’t they both have started at age 21 or 25? Why waste all those years?
KLAUS: I can answer that, too. Mark, tell me, do we live in a society which respects youth or age?
ANNOUNCER: I would say youth. Many people want to appear as young as possible.
KLAUS: Yes, absolutely. Our culture is obsessed with youth. At any rate, in Jesus’ day, people respected the accumulated wisdom of their elders. If I remember correctly, when a trial came to a vote in the Jewish supreme court the youngest member always voted first. It seems that they didn’t want impressionable youngsters to be swayed by the learned decision of someone who was much older.
ANNOUNCER: So, older was better.
KLAUS: It was. In fact, so great was their respect for the elderly, it was considered almost impossible that a young person could be wise. It was thought that anyone who began preaching and teaching at a very early age was little more than a wet-behind-the-ears, know-nothing upstart.
ANNOUNCER: And, at what age was a person deemed worthy to teach?
KLAUS: Would you be surprised if I told you it was the age of 30?
ANNOUNCER: The age at which John the Baptist started.
KLAUS: Yes, and the age at which Jesus also started.
ANNOUNCER: That’s a very helpful insight.
KLAUS: Those silent years were not squandered, they were spent waiting and preparing, in order that people would someday listen – and believe.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music selection for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Oh, Sing Jubilee to the Lord” arranged by Henry Gerike. From Jubilee by the Concordia Seminary Lutheran Hour Chorus (© 2000 International Lutheran Laymen’s League)
“Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” by Timothy Moke and Georg Masanz. From Magnificent Christian Hymns, vol. 3 by Timothy Moke and Georg Masanz (© 2006 T. Moke Recordings)
“All People That On Earth Do Dwell” by David Cherwien. From Hymn Interpretations, vol. 1 by David Cherwien (© 1992 Summa Productions)