#67 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – November 17, 2002 a.m.

ELEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

In the New Testament there are several references to the world system government and its characteristics. These are often corroborative information to other elements of revelation. They are not the reason for their mention of themselves. Some of the references are simply characteristics that are to be self-evident. Government taxes its subjects. Has there ever been a government that did not in some way tax its people? Forthright references to the government of the world system in the New Testament are few in number. Several passages describe how a Christian is to relate to government but they do not describe many of its characteristics. Some of the material before us is visible because it is used in contrast or comparison to the government offered by Christ in His offer of His kingdom to Israel. Kingdom government is a distinct option to the governments of the nations of the world system. A later message will deal with the Christian's responsibility to government even though human government is a part of the Satanic world system. The following message journeys through some references to the world system's government in the Gospels.

Jesus had been speaking about the kingdom of the heavens in the days before He went to Jerusalem. He had promised the twelve disciples twelve thrones in His kingdom (Matt. 19:28). On the way to Jerusalem he had taken his disciples aside and told them that He would be betrayed, be crucified and rise again on the third day (Matt. 20:18). Verse 19 finds the mother of James and John coming to ask Jesus for something. The thing that dominated her thinking and that of her sons (cf. Mk. 10:35) was that they be given the thrones in the positions of privilege at Jesus' right and left. Naturally when the other disciples heard this request they were indignant and disturbed. In Matt. 20:25 Jesus uses the government of the world system to show that their thinking was world system oriented rather than relating to His kingdom. Mark 10:42 describes the leaders of the world system government to be accounted to rule over nations. The Matthew account describes the leaders or princes of the nations of the world system as thoroughly exercising lordship over the nations. It also describes the great ones of the nations as thoroughly exercising authority over the nations. Those who have political power and authority always seek to have absolute power increasing it more and more if it is at all possible. I have translated the two verbs with the word "thoroughly." This is because both of them are intensified by the addition of the prepositional prefix kata. This prefix emphasizes the strengthened intensity of the leaders of the governments of the nations to exercise more and more power and authority. Luke 22:25 describes them as benefactors indicating that they were workers of good. That is to say, their subjects accepted their authority because the leaders made them happy by what they did. The government of the world system attempts to keep its subjects happy to maintain its hold over them. Christ's kingdom that was offered was completely different. His government will involve service rather than striving for greater authority (cf. context).

II. relates to the things that could be expected of the governments of the world system. Being with Jesus brought great pressure on His disciples because of the lack of creature comforts and accommodations when they were with Him. He reminds them that the Father provides the necessities for the existence and covering in the natural world. He encourages them not to be kept in suspense and not to be seeking food and drink (Lu. 12:29). He says that these are the things that the nations of the world system are continually seeking. Food, drink and clothing are central to the maintenance of the world system government and to its functions. Government is designed to provide creature comforts for its subjects. Christ promises that if the disciples seek the kingdom of God (sphere of salvation) they will ultimately receive all these things.

Another function of government is the collection of assessments and taxes. In Matthew 17:25 (III.) Jesus describes His relationship to the government of the world system. In this case it is the religious government of the Judaism of the world system. The tax collectors in verse 24 are the temple tax collectors. The law asked for a voluntary temple tax of every male over 20 (Ex. 30:13-15). This tax was a half shekel or two drachmas per year per person. The collectors had asked Peter if Jesus paid the tax. Peter had responded that He did. As Peter came to ask Jesus what to do, Jesus answered the question before Peter could ask it. He asks with a short series of questions. What do you think? From whom do kings take taxes and assessments? Of their sons? Of strangers (nonmembers of the king's household)? Peter responds that strangers are taxed. Jesus says that sons of the king are exempt. The implication is that neither he nor Peter was required to pay such a tax because He was king and Peter a son in a sense. Rather than cause a scandal He tells Peter to pay the tax (but not from the treasury or out of pocket). Rather Peter is told to go fishing and cast a hook into the sea. The first fish Peter would catch would have a piece of money (a stater) in its mouth. A stater equaled a shekel and so provided finances for Peter to pay the tax for Jesus and for himself. The Christian has a different relationship to the taxes of world system government (cf. Rom. 13:6, 7).

Jesus was offered a Jewish kingdom in the world system after He fed the 5,000. Previously in His temptation Satan had offered Him all of the kingdoms of the world system (Matt. 4:8). He had provided food for 5,000 men plus women and children from the loaves and fishes of the lad. Jesus perceived or knew that they were coming to seize Him and make him king. He would be accountable to those who made Him king. This was another premature offer of a kingdom to Jesus. They perceived that He was the prophet promised in Deuteronomy 18:15, 18. These people saw an instant welfare system operated by a king that could provide all the food that they needed and probably other economic considerations. They knew that He healed the sick and would provide a grand medical system. They saw a world system government that would permit them to work less and to have more. He knew this and went by Himself to the mountain escaping them and preventing them from accomplishing their perceived goal. His disciples left by boat to cross the Galilee to Capernaum.

The world system government permits a natural domination by those who enter leadership. The world system governments were required to develop programs for food, drink and clothing (necessities of life) in order to maintain its control over its subjects. National and religious government would naturally levy assessments and taxes from the people who are subjects of the world system. Underneath government in the world system is a desire to make life easier for its subjects in order to support the political power of the government. While the leaders may have a higher standard of living, its subjects can be made comfortable with aspects of government accepting a higher standard of living than yesterday. As a result, the people support the government and the leaders of the world system government maintain their power. This has been true from the very first governments.

#67 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – November 17, 2002 a.m.

ELEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To present some of the concepts concerning the world system and its governments in the New Testament. There are some clear descriptions of the function of world system government that are subordinate elements of other revelation in the New Testament.

Introduction

A. The Limitation of Revelation Concerning World System Government in the New Testament

B. The Mention of Specific Elements of the Arrangements for Government in the World System

1. By Comparison

2. By Contrast

C. The Options for Kingdom Believers During Christ's Earthly Ministry

D. The Revelation of the Christian's Relationship to World System Government in the Dispensation of Grace

TRANS: The government of the world system is designed so those who have power in it on any level easily intensify the need for more power. This occurs in any kind of government and on any level. Christ describes this as an attitude inherent in worldly government versus a different attitude in his kingdom government.

I. THE EXPANSION OF POWER AND AUTHORITY BY LEADERS IN THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE COMMON PRACTICE OF THOSE WHO HAVE AUTHORITY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE CONTRASTS BETWEEN CHRIST'S KINGDOM AND THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – Matthew 20:25 [cf. Mark 10:42; Luke 22:25]

A. The Intervention of the Mother of James and John with Jesus – 20:20

B. The Supplication for Her Sons' Position s in Christ's Kingdom – 20:21

C. The Indignation of the Ten Other Disciples – 20:24

D. The Condition of the Kingdoms of the World System – 20:25

1. Persons Counted to Rule or First Leaders (Mark 10:42)

2. Princes of Nations Thoroughly Lord It Over the Nations

3. Great Ones of Nations Thoroughly Exercise Authority Over the Nations

4. Called Benefactors (Luke 22:25)

E. The Situation in Christ's Kingdom for the Twelve Disciples – 20:26

1. It Is Not So Among You

2. A Matter of Service in Christ's Kingdom

TRANS: The world system governments are designed to provide creature comforts to some or all of their subjects. These are seen as the elements of food, drink and clothing.

II. THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE THINGS SOUGHT BY THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE CONSTANT PURSUIT OF FOOD, DRINK AND CLOTHING BY THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE CONCENTRATION ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD VERSUS THE CONCERNS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM DURING CHRIST'S EARTHLY MINISTRY – Luke 12:29, 30 [cf. Matthew 6:25-34]

A. The Pressure of Anxiety on the Disciples – 12:22-29

B. The Pursuit of Food and Drink – 12:29

C. The Problem of Pursuit by the Nations and Their Structure – 12:30

1. All These Things

2. The Nations of the World System

3. Are Focusing Their Seeking Upon (lit.)

D. The Provision of the Father for Those Who Seek the Kingdom of God in Christ's Earthly

Ministry

TRANS: A characteristic of the government of the world system is the collection of revenue through assessments, taxes and levies. This was very much true in Jesus' day. When approached for the temple tax, He had it paid in order to avoid controversy concerning His presentation of His kingdom.

III. THE EXACTION OF TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS BY THE KINGS OF THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH – THE CONSTRAINED PAYMENT TO KINGS OF

TAXES IN THE SYSTEM – THE COLLECTION OF TAXES DURING THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST – Matthew 17:25

A. The Approach of the Tax Collectors to Peter – 17:24

1. Does Your Master Pay Taxes?

2. Peter – "Yes"

B. The Assessment of the Temple Tax in Jewish Society

1. Temple Tax = ½ Shekel = Two Drachmas Per Year Per Person (Ex. 30:13-15; Neh.

10:32)

2. Jesus and Peter = ½ Shekel + ½ Shekel = One Shekel = Four Drachmas

C. The Answer of Jesus Before the Question Was Asked – 17:25

1. What Do You Think, Simon?

2. From Whom Do the Kings of the Earth Take Taxes and Assessments?

3. Of Their Own Sons?

4. Of Strangers?

D. The Analysis of the Situation – 17:26

1. Strangers Are Taxed -- Peter

2. Sons of the King Are Exempt -- Jesus

3. You Are a Son of the King and Exempt

E. The Actuality of a Double Standard

F. The Avoiding of a Scandal and Provision of the Tax -- 17:27

G. The Attitude of the Grace Believer Toward Taxes – Romans 13:6, 7

TRANS: The Jews felt that they had an ideal candidate for king in Jesus after He had fed the 5,000. They wanted to make Him king because of the physical benefits they knew he could provide. They wanted to establish their world system type of government and to make Him the king. They wanted to be kingmakers and control the king. He would become the sovereign King in His time in the decree and not before.

IV. THE ENDEAVOR OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM TO MAKE JESUS

TO BE KING OF A WORLD SYSTEM KINGDOM – THE CONCEIVED PLAN TO

MAKE JESUS KING ON MAN'S GROUNDS – THE CONVENIENCE OF A

WELFARE KING FOR THE WORLD SYSTEM PLANNED – John 6:15

A. Satan's Offer of the Kingdoms of the World System to Christ in His Temptations –

Matthew 4:8

B. The Origin of Christ's Kingdom Is Not of This World System – John 18:36

C. The Operation Planned to Make Jesus King – John 6:15

1. The Sign Miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand – 6:14a (6:1-13)

2. The Statement That Jesus Was the Prophet – cf. Deut. 18:15

a. The Prophet (articular)

b. Coming Into the World

3. The Scheme Known by Jesus in His Omniscience

4. The Seizure of Jesus Planned

5. The Setting Up of Jesus as King

TRANS: The world system and its subjects are always looking for ways to promote its prosperity. These include the zeal of leaders to gain higher authority, the provision of benefits to its subjects in order to retain its power, the collection of revenues to support its programs and developing programs that will increase popular support for itself and its leaders. This was very much true at the time of Christ with its various levels of government.

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119

"Satan has created nothing. The order and system of God's material creation are involved in the cosmos only as Satan has been permitted to assume authority and is misdirecting it. The cosmos manifestations are almost wholly those which arise from misguided, Satan-governed humanity in blind subscription to principles of life and action which are outworkings of the original lie."

Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. II, pg. 79