04-15-25 part 1: Traps, Taxes, and Trusting God Anyway

1. The Setup: Flattery with a Hidden Agenda

Dr. Spoon walks us through Matthew 22:15–21, where the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus using a deceptively simple question about taxes. They start with flattery—“Teacher, we know how honest You are…”—but Dr. Spoon exposes it for what it is: fake praise meant to disarm. The goal wasn’t to learn truth, it was to twist Jesus’ words into something indictable. Their compliment sandwich was a setup. Dr. Spoon reminds us that Satan uses the same tactic—slander and deception masked by half-truths. We must discern when the world is seeking wisdom and when it’s setting a trap.

2. Give to Caesar, Give to God

The question—“Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?”—was intended to force Jesus into either rebellion or religious compromise. But Jesus responds with divine brilliance: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Dr. Spoon explains this not just as a clever dodge, but a deeper revelation. Our money may bear the image of Caesar, but our lives bear the image of God. Taxes are temporary—devotion is eternal. Government may demand your wallet, but God is after your heart.

3. Be Wise, Not Worldly

Dr. Spoon draws a parallel between this story and modern media tactics, where narratives are manipulated to entrap and destroy. Whether left or right, the media (as he jokingly defines it—“Making Everyone Dumber in America”) often distorts facts to push agendas. Like Jesus, we need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, responding with both truth and grace. Don’t fall for the bait. We’re not here to impress the mob. We’re here to follow Jesus.

4. Trust the God Who Keeps Promises

Dr. Spoon closes with a reflection on Romans 4 and the example of Abraham. Against all hope, Abraham believed God’s promise—even when it seemed biologically impossible. He didn’t waver in unbelief but was “fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.” The same is true for us. Whether or not we see the fulfillment in our timing, God honors faith that holds fast. It’s not about demanding a result—it’s about giving God glory in the waiting. Because when God shows up, everything changes.