Luke 23:2 (KJV)
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
The passage says, “they began to accuse him…” They certainly weren’t finished. Their intention was to have Christ crucified at all costs.
Perverting the nation
I take this to mean turning people away from what they believed was their Jewish heritage. Over time, they had drifted so far from the roots of their faith that they sincerely believed they were its sole possessors.
Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar
This was an absolute falsehood, as demonstrated when they asked Him about paying tribute, and He said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.” Jesus was no threat to worldly governments then, nor is He a threat to them now. Those governments that have persecuted Christians and sought to exterminate the Christian faith have done so to their own detriment. Christians make the very best citizens. True Christianity discerns the difference between the earthly and the heavenly.
Christ a King
They believed this was the capstone of their argument against Him. Christ is a King—but His kingdom is not of this world. The things of this earth will melt away in due time, but it is not the work of the Christian to bring about their end. True believers are ambassadors of a different land. We have not come to cause a coup; we have come to represent our King on foreign soil and to invite others to meet Him.
Religion—like that of the Pharisees, and like so many associated with Catholicism and her Protestant offshoots (as well as Islam, which is, frankly, a type of Catholic offshoot)—confuses faith with earthly power.
Apparently, Pilate recognized the difference. Though he was not as firm in his conviction as we might have wished, he still saw no fault in Christ. Even now, the world would do well to recognize that Christ’s kingdom is eternal, and His followers are not its enemies.
#ChristIsKing #TruthRejected #PilatesDilemma #EternalKingdom #FaithfulAmbassadors
Pilate’s Dilemma: Earthly Governments vs. The Heavenly Kingdom
If Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, how should we live as His ambassadors? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Share the Gospel with at least one person. Whether through a conversation, a social media post, or handing out a Gospel tract, be intentional about representing Christ.
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Luke 23:2 (KJV) Earthly Governments vs. The Heavenly Kingdom
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