Two Kinds of Heart

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Two Kinds of Heart

• Matthew 2215-22

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I. Introduction

• We have just been through a week full of pain and
  fear, yet we thank God that He kept us safe in
  His loving arms.
• The San Diego wildfire stared 923 am Sunday, Oct
  21, near the Mexican border.
• So far, roughly 1 mil. people evacuated, 14 died,
  1800 houses destroyed or damaged, 74 injured (53
  firefighters). 800 sq miles burnt. Cost
  estimation over 1 bil.

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West Bernado area
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West Bernado area
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West Bernado area
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Nothing left intact except for the house number
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Used to be a Civic, isnt it?
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West Bernado area
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Satellite picture of SD fire smoke
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I. Introduction

• Why do people cry over their loss? Memories?
  Family member?
• Many cried because they were so attached to the
  things that were lost. They feel empty, hurt,
  desperate, and they for get they still have the
  most important thing of all their lives.
• Many have worried, panicked even though they lost
  nothing and hurt nowhere.

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I. Introduction

• Many found terror in the fire. I found peace,
  since I know God is with me and with His church
  always.
• Todays lesson Two Kinds of Hearts
• 1. Hearts that Gaze on Earth
• 2. Hearts that Gaze on God

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• Lessons of the last 3 weeks Parable of the two
  sons, parable of the vineyard workers, and
  parable of the wedding feast.
• Todays lesson The Pharisees first effort to
  nail Jesus.
• Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to
  trap him in his words (v. 15)
• laid plans making evil plots to harm s/o

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• They 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. 17 Tell us then, what is your
  opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or
  not?" (v. 16-17)

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• Jewish society in Jesus time consists of many
  groups the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the
  Herodians, the nationalists and others.
• The Pharisees Legalism is a must
• The Sadducees Resurrection? NO, NO!
• The Herodians Hail king Herod!
• The nationalist We aint paying no tax!

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• The Herodians who came to Jesus seemed to be nice
  and understanding and believing and all (v.16) !
  However, Jesus knew their hearts.
• Paying tax in Jewish society was a must in order
  to be left alone for making a living.
• Men, women, slave from 12 or 14 to 65 had to
  pay tax.

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• Tax amount 1 denarius, equals 1 working days
  wage.
• Tiberius Caesar picture was on the coin.
• Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They
  brought him a denarius, 20 and 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

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• What did Jesus mean by saying, Give to Caesar
  what is Caesar's?
• In that context, Jesus could have been in trouble
  with the Roman officials if He defied tax paying,
  or with the nationalist if He promoted tax
  paying.
• Jesus answer avoids both dangers

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• Caesar The one in power, or the controlling
  power.
• During that time, the Jewish people paid more
  attention to fulfilling the Roman empires rules
  than to please God.
• Our Caesar the material things that hold us back
  from running to the Lord.

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• The SD wildfire is an affirmation that material
  is just dust going back to dust.
• The material things dont belong to us, however,
  there are times we care for, keep, protect even
  more than ourselves.
• The hearts of those who only gaze on Caesar will
  find themselves empty, desperate, panicked,
  terrified when disasters happen.

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• Those hearts know the earth, not the Creator of
  the earth, and have no peace whatsoever.
• Did we worry or fear because of the fire?
• Did we get panicked and acted as if God is no
  where?
• Then it is time to ask for Gods forgiveness!

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II. Hearts that Gaze on Earth

• Letting Caesar (material things) controlling our
  lives and thoughts is to set our hearts on fire
  for the earth, not for God.
• Remember, dust goes back to dust!

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III. Hearts that Gaze on God

• Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what
  is God's (v. 22).
• What does it mean to give God what is His?
• Jesus started from a material matter and turned
  it to a serious spiritual matter the commitment
  to our master/Master.

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III. Hearts that Gaze on God

• If a person pays tax to Caesar as a civil
  obligation, then s/he has an even more important
  obligation to give her/himself to God.
• Give God what is His implies the commitment
  worthy of Him.

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III. Hearts that Gaze on God

• What of us that we can give to God?
• Ezekiel 184, For every living soul belongs to
  me, the father as well as the son-- both alike
  belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who
  will die.
• Answer Our souls.
• Giving your soul to God means to gaze on God, and
  follow His guidance through all circumstances of
  life.

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IV. Conclusion

• There are two kinds of hearts those that gaze on
  earth, and those that gaze on God.
• Which one is your?
• If anything is holding you back, let it go! Lose
  it, and you will find your soul in Gods arms and
  peace, or keep it, and you will lose your soul in
  Gods wrath and fire!