Read all of chapter 22. Matthew gives us here three "temptations" of Jesus by different groups of people, all of which serve to illustrate the types of refusal to the feast of the kingdom at the beginning of the chapter.

The Herodians were partisans of King Herod, and characterize those who are so attached to a particular earthly kingdom that they have no time for submission to God’s authority. The Sadducees (v 23) represent those who cannot (or will not) see beyond the here and now. The Pharisees (v 34) are those who cannot see the forest for the trees — they are so meticulously concerned with details that they lose sight of the whole picture.

The simple message of Jesus’ reply is that there is no opposition between genuine civil obligations and responsibilities, and the obligations of God’s kingdom. Concern for God’s kingdom cannot be used as an excuse to neglect the realities of the world in which we live, any more than earthly concerns can be allowed to cloud over our response to God’s invitation to his kingdom.

Cyrus, the pagan king of Persia who conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.E. and liberated the captive people, including the Hebrews, is here described in terms that reflect an intimate relationship with God — anointed (v 1) and shepherd (44:28). The one God is seen as master of all events, and therefore even a foreign pagan king can be the instrument of his will.

This psalm praises God for his lordship over all creation and over all peoples. Response: "Give the Lord glory and honor."

Paul wrote this letter from Corinth not long after he had established the Christian community in Thessalonica. He is encouraged by their progress in faith. He emphasizes that the preaching of the word is the first step of the Christian life, but the completion rests solely on the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Faith is deepened and strengthened in hope — through the patient endurance of trials we grow.

1. Should a Christian in government behave differently from a non-Christian? What sort of issues should he or she approach differently?

2. Abortion, capital punishment and prison reform, education, rights and opportunities of minorities, the "Third World" nations, nuclear armament —does the relationship between God and Caesar spoken of by Jesus have any bearing on these issues?