Was Jesus Involved in Politics?

That’s all well and good, but Jesus didn’t get involved in Politics. He didn’t try to change the Roman law. He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” If Jesus didn’t do it, then we shouldn’t either! – College Coed Objection

If Jesus did not do something, does that mean we should not do it either? The Romans violently killed people but Jesus never condemns them. Should we then allow people to kill others? The Romans violently killed people but Jesus never condemns them. Should we then allow people to kill others? Slavery was everywhere but Jesus didn’t say to free them. Was Jesus condoning racism and slavery? Slavery was everywhere but Jesus didn’t say to free them. Was Jesus condoning racism and slavery? Jesus never married. Does that mean we should not marry? Jesus never married. Does that mean we should not marry?

Objection: Jesus didn’t try to change the Roman law Was Jesus a Roman citizen? Was Jesus a Roman citizen? What nationality was Jesus? What nationality was Jesus? Could any Jew approach Caesar or Roman Politicians? Could any Jew approach Caesar or Roman Politicians?

Judea still had it’s own government under Roman occupation Read Acts 5:17-29 Read Acts 5:17-29 King Herod has his own Army King Herod has his own Army So Jesus could not be involved in Roman politics but was He involved in Jewish politics? So Jesus could not be involved in Roman politics but was He involved in Jewish politics? If so, who then were His senators and representatives? If so, who then were His senators and representatives?

Sanhedrin = sitting together Total number = 71 Total number = 71 Supreme Court & Legislative Body Supreme Court & Legislative Body They make the lesser laws subservient to their constitution They make the lesser laws subservient to their constitution

Who were the Sanhedrin? Who were these men that were senators and lawmakers of the Jews? Who were these men that were senators and lawmakers of the Jews? Do we ever hear about them in the Bible? Do we ever hear about them in the Bible? Did Jesus ever talk to them? OR as some Christians claim… Did Jesus ever talk to them? OR as some Christians claim… Did Jesus stay far away from them because they were too worldly? Did Jesus stay far away from them because they were too worldly?

The Pharisees and Sadducees Acts 23, John 11:47, Acts 4:1, Acts 5:29-41 Acts 23, John 11:47, Acts 4:1, Acts 5:29-41 So other than the Apostles, what leaders did Jesus interact with? Whom did He advise, admonish, condemn, chastise? So other than the Apostles, what leaders did Jesus interact with? Whom did He advise, admonish, condemn, chastise?

Did you ever hear of this man of the Pharisees? 1 - Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 1 - Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 - this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 2 - this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 - Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John Ch Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John Ch. 3

Objection: The Sanhedrin were in charge of Religious laws only “All religious matters and all civil matters not claimed by Roman authority were within the Sanhedrin’s attributions; and the decisions issued by it’s judges were to be held inviolable.” – Jewish Historian Reifmann in 1888 “All religious matters and all civil matters not claimed by Roman authority were within the Sanhedrin’s attributions; and the decisions issued by it’s judges were to be held inviolable.” – Jewish Historian Reifmann in 1888

Objection: The Sanhedrin were in charge of Religious laws only “We know that Paul was a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, and that the Sanhedrin had legislative, executive, judicial, civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical power under the Romans….” - The Trial of Christ, by David K. Breed in 1948 “We know that Paul was a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, and that the Sanhedrin had legislative, executive, judicial, civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical power under the Romans….” - The Trial of Christ, by David K. Breed in 1948

Jesus was involved in Politics So we know from the Bible that Jesus was always talking to Sanhedrin individuals. So we know from the Bible that Jesus was always talking to Sanhedrin individuals. He would have tried to influence them. He would have tried to influence them. He called them to account. He called them to account. He showed them that many of their religious and civil laws were wrong and overly numerous. He showed them that many of their religious and civil laws were wrong and overly numerous.

Are all Pharisees bad? The word Pharisee is incorrectly used by Christians today. They were not all bad. The word Pharisee is incorrectly used by Christians today. They were not all bad. Jesus only chastised the bad politicians but worked with the good ones Jesus only chastised the bad politicians but worked with the good ones Gamaliel was good! - Read Acts 5:34-40 Gamaliel was good! - Read Acts 5:34-40 Nicodemus was good! Nicodemus was good! Joseph of Arimathea was good! Joseph of Arimathea was good! Likely some others were also good. Likely some others were also good.

WWJD? Luke 13:31 - Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You." Luke 13:31 - Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You." Luke 13:31 Luke 13:31 Luke 13:32 - And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.' Luke 13:32 - And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.' Luke 13:32 Luke 13:32

WWJD? Mat 23:27 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.” Mat 23:27 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.” Mat 23:27 Mat 23:27 Mat 23:33 – “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” Mat 23:33 – “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” Mat 23:33 Mat 23:33

Objection: Jesus only dealt with religious laws, not civil laws Mat 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Mat 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Mat 23:23 Mat 23:23

What about Caesar? Mat 22:17-21 – “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?“ But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?“ They said to Him, “Caesar's.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.” Mat 22:17-21 – “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?“ But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?“ They said to Him, “Caesar's.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.” Mat 22:17 Mat 22:17

What about Caesar? Where does it say to NOT give to Caesar what is his? Where does it say to NOT give to Caesar what is his? “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to be involved in politics, or not?“ - v. 17 “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to be involved in politics, or not?“ - v. 17 Then He said to them, "Then render unto the involvement in politics the things that are due the involvement in politics; and to God the things that are God's." – v. 21b Then He said to them, "Then render unto the involvement in politics the things that are due the involvement in politics; and to God the things that are God's." – v. 21b

Who is Caesar today in the US? “It might also help to realize that we do not live under Caesar. Our civil rulers took an oath to uphold the Constitution, which is the “supreme law of the land.” Neither the president nor the members of Congress are Caesar. If we have a “Caesar,” it is the United States Constitution. But even the Constitution recognizes its own limits and the right of the people to express their grievances, vote corrupt and oath-breaking rulers out of office, and change existing laws.” – Author Gary DeMar “It might also help to realize that we do not live under Caesar. Our civil rulers took an oath to uphold the Constitution, which is the “supreme law of the land.” Neither the president nor the members of Congress are Caesar. If we have a “Caesar,” it is the United States Constitution. But even the Constitution recognizes its own limits and the right of the people to express their grievances, vote corrupt and oath-breaking rulers out of office, and change existing laws.” – Author Gary DeMar

Jesus IS involved in Politics! Was Jesus involved when William Wilberforce spent 47 political years to end England’s slave trade? Was Jesus involved when William Wilberforce spent 47 political years to end England’s slave trade? How about when racial discrimination was made illegal? How about when racial discrimination was made illegal? Did He care when abortion was made legal? Did He care when abortion was made legal? Did He care when true Christians stayed out of politics when Hitler took power? Did He care when true Christians stayed out of politics when Hitler took power? If He is concerned with the least of us, can He fail to be involved in Politics today? If He is concerned with the least of us, can He fail to be involved in Politics today?

Conclusion The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. – Psalm 9:17 KJV The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. – Psalm 9:17 KJV