Jesus Christ and the Laws – JSS2 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

In the time of Jesus, the Jewish people lived under two kinds of law: religious law, given by God through Moses, and civil law, imposed by the Roman government. Jesus, the Son of God, obeyed both. He paid taxes, kept the Sabbath, attended festivals and respected authority, so that He could be an example to believers.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define law and state the purposes of law;
• name and describe the two types of law in Jesus’s time;
• explain how Jesus obeyed religious and civil laws;
• state the reasons why Jesus submitted to the law;
• narrate the stories of the temple tax and of paying taxes to Caesar, and state the lessons from them.

Jesus and the laws of His time

During the time of Jesus, there were many laws that the Jewish people had to follow. These laws came from different sources and governed different parts of their lives. Jesus, who was both fully God and fully human, lived on earth as a Jewish man. Even though He was the Son of God and had all power and authority, Jesus chose to obey the laws of His time.

He set a perfect example for us of what it means to be a law-abiding citizen and a faithful follower of God. By studying how Jesus related to the laws, we learn important lessons about obedience, respect for authority, and living righteously in society.

What is law?

A law is a rule or regulation that people must follow. Laws are made by those in authority to guide behaviour, maintain order, and promote justice in society. Laws tell people what they should do and what they should not do.

What are the purposes of law?

1. To maintain order: Laws help keep peace and order in society. Without laws, there would be chaos. Everyone would do whatever they wanted, and this would lead to confusion and conflict.
2. To protect people: Laws protect people from harm. They prevent stronger people from hurting weaker people. They ensure that everyone’s rights are respected and that no one takes advantage of others.
3. To define right and wrong: Laws help people know what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. They provide clear guidelines for how people should act in different situations.
4. To provide consequences: Laws include punishments or penalties for those who break them. This discourages people from doing wrong and encourages them to do right.
5. To promote justice: Laws help ensure that people are treated fairly. They provide a standard by which disputes can be settled and wrongs can be made right.

In the Bible, God gave laws to His people to show them how to live holy lives and to prepare them for the coming of Jesus Christ. These laws revealed God’s character and His standards for righteous living.

What types of law existed during Jesus’s time?

During the time of Jesus, the Jewish people lived under two main types of law: religious law and civil law. Understanding these two types of law helps us see how Jesus related to both spiritual authority and government authority.

1. Religious law

Religious law refers to the laws that God gave to the Jewish people through Moses and other prophets. These laws governed the spiritual and moral life of God’s people. The religious laws were found mainly in the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah or the Law of Moses.

The religious laws included:

1. The Ten Commandments: These were the most important moral laws that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. They included commands like “You shall have no other gods before me,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” and “Honour your father and mother.” These commandments formed the foundation of moral behaviour for God’s people.
2. Ceremonial laws: These laws dealt with worship, sacrifices, festivals, and religious rituals. They included rules about offering animal sacrifices for sin, celebrating religious festivals like Passover and the Day of Atonement, and conducting worship services in the temple. These laws taught people about holiness and the need for atonement for sin.
3. Purity laws: These laws dealt with cleanliness and ceremonial purity. They included rules about clean and unclean foods (what animals could be eaten), purification after childbirth, how to deal with diseases like leprosy, and how to handle contact with dead bodies. These laws taught people about being set apart for God.
4. Social and justice laws: These laws governed how people should treat one another. They included rules about caring for the poor, treating foreigners with kindness, being honest in business, protecting widows and orphans, and ensuring fair treatment in legal matters. These laws reflected God’s heart for justice and mercy.

Who enforced religious laws?

The religious leaders (priests, scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees) were responsible for teaching and enforcing religious laws. They interpreted the laws, judged religious matters, and oversaw worship in the temple and synagogues. By Jesus’s time, the religious leaders had added many extra rules and traditions to God’s original laws, making them very complicated and burdensome.

2. Civil law

Civil law refers to the laws of the government that ruled over the land. During Jesus’s time, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation. The Roman Empire had conquered their land, and a Roman governor ruled over them. Therefore, the Jewish people had to obey both their own religious laws and the laws imposed by the Roman government.

The civil laws included:

1. Taxation laws: The Roman government required the Jewish people to pay various taxes. These included a poll tax (a tax on each person), land taxes, and customs duties on goods. The Romans also required the Jewish people to pay for the upkeep of the Roman army and administration.
2. Criminal laws: The Roman government had laws against crimes like murder, theft, assault, and rebellion. They enforced these laws with their own courts and punishments, which could include imprisonment, beatings, crucifixion, and other severe penalties.
3. Property laws: There were laws about owning land, buying and selling property, and resolving disputes over property rights.
4. Administrative laws: These laws dealt with citizenship, travel permits, military service, and other matters related to governing the empire.

Who enforced civil laws?

The Roman governor (like Pontius Pilate during Jesus’s time) and Roman officials enforced civil laws. They had Roman soldiers and local police to maintain order and punish lawbreakers. The Romans allowed the Jewish religious council (called the Sanhedrin) to handle some religious matters, but they kept final authority over serious criminal cases and death penalties.

What was the tension between religious and civil law?

Sometimes there was tension between religious law and civil law. For example, the Jews believed they should worship only God, but Roman law required loyalty to the Roman emperor. The Jews had their own religious courts, but the Romans had final say in capital punishment cases. The Jewish people had to steer carefully between obeying God’s laws and obeying the government’s laws.

How did Jesus subject Himself to the laws of His time?

Even though Jesus was the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, and the One who gave the Law to Moses, He chose to live under the law as a human being. Jesus perfectly obeyed both religious laws and civil laws throughout His life. The sections below show how He did this and why.

1. Jesus obeyed religious laws

He was circumcised. According to Jewish law, every male baby was to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth as a sign of the covenant between God and His people. When Jesus was eight days old, His parents took Him to be circumcised, following this commandment (Luke 2:21).

He was presented at the temple. Jewish law required that the firstborn son of every family be dedicated to God. Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, following the law (Luke 2:22-24). They also offered the required sacrifice: two doves or two young pigeons. This was the offering for poor families, showing that Jesus’s family was not wealthy.

He attended religious festivals. Jewish law required all Jewish men to go to Jerusalem three times a year for major festivals: Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus’s family faithfully attended these festivals. When Jesus was twelve years old, He went with His parents to Jerusalem for the Passover festival (Luke 2:41-42). Throughout His ministry, Jesus continued to attend these festivals and worship at the temple and in synagogues.

He kept the Sabbath. The fourth commandment required that people rest on the Sabbath day (Saturday) and keep it holy. Jesus regularly attended synagogue worship on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). However, Jesus also taught the true meaning of the Sabbath. He healed people and did good works on the Sabbath, showing that the Sabbath was made for people’s benefit and was never meant to be a burden. When the Pharisees criticised Him for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus explained that showing mercy and doing good was the right way to honour the Sabbath.

He followed purity laws. Jesus followed the ceremonial purity laws. For example, when He healed a leper, He told the man to go and show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for cleansing (Mark 1:44). This showed respect for the religious law.

He fulfilled the law perfectly. Most importantly, Jesus lived a perfect life without ever sinning. He kept all of God’s moral laws perfectly. He never lied, stole, murdered, committed adultery, worshipped false gods, or dishonoured His parents. He loved God with all His heart and loved His neighbour as Himself. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

2. Jesus obeyed civil laws

He paid taxes. Jesus obeyed the Roman government’s taxation laws. Even though, as the Son of God, He could have claimed exemption from taxes, He chose to pay them to avoid causing offence and to show respect for government authority (Matthew 17:24-27).

He respected government officials. Jesus showed respect to government authorities. When brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, Jesus answered his questions respectfully, even though Pilate had the power to crucify Him.

He taught submission to government. Jesus taught His followers to respect government authority. When asked whether Jews should pay taxes to Caesar (the Roman emperor), Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). This showed that Christians should fulfil their civic duties while remaining faithful to God.

He did not lead a political rebellion. The Jewish people suffered under Roman occupation, and many wanted a Messiah who would overthrow the Romans. Jesus did not lead a political revolution. He came to establish a spiritual kingdom.

3. Why did Jesus subject Himself to the law?

To be our example. Jesus showed us how to live. By obeying the laws, He demonstrated that God’s people should be law-abiding citizens who respect authority. We are called to follow His example.

To fulfil all righteousness. Jesus came to live the perfect life that we could not live. He kept every law perfectly so that His righteousness could be credited to us when we believe in Him.

To identify with humanity. By submitting to the law like every other person, Jesus showed that He truly became human. He experienced all the obligations and requirements that we experience.

To honour His Father. Jesus obeyed the law to honour God the Father. He said, “I always do what pleases Him” (John 8:29).

How did Jesus deal with taxes?

The Bible gives us several specific examples of how Jesus dealt with the issue of taxation. These stories teach us important lessons about our responsibilities to government and to God.

The temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27)

The story

When Jesus and His disciples came to the town of Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?”

The temple tax was a religious tax. Every Jewish male twenty years old and older had to pay half a shekel each year to support the temple in Jerusalem and its services. It was a Jewish religious obligation based on Exodus 30:13-16, and it was not a Roman tax.

Peter answered, “Yes, He does.” Peter assumed that Jesus would pay the tax like everyone else.

When Peter came into the house where Jesus was staying, Jesus spoke to him first, before Peter could even mention the conversation. This showed that Jesus, in His divine knowledge, knew what had happened.

Jesus asked Peter a question: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes, from their own children or from others?”

Peter answered, “From others.” Peter understood that kings do not tax their own children; they tax the citizens of their kingdom.

Jesus said, “Then the children are exempt.” Jesus was making a point: the temple was God’s house, and Jesus was God’s Son. As the Son of God, Jesus was technically exempt from the temple tax. He did not owe this tax because it was His Father’s temple.

Jesus then said, “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Even though Jesus had the right to be exempt, He chose to pay the tax anyway. He gave His reason: “So that we may not cause offense.” Jesus did not want to create unnecessary problems or offend people. He wanted to show respect and avoid causing stumbling blocks for others.

Peter obeyed. He went fishing, caught a fish, and found exactly the right amount of money in its mouth: a four-drachma coin, enough to pay the temple tax for both Jesus and Peter. This miracle showed Jesus’s divine power while also demonstrating His willingness to fulfil obligations.

Lessons from this story

1. Jesus respected religious obligations: Even though He was exempt as God’s Son, Jesus paid the temple tax. This teaches us to honour our religious and civic obligations.
2. We should avoid causing unnecessary offence: Jesus paid the tax “so that we may not cause offense.” Christians should be considerate of others and not cause problems over issues that are not essential to faith.
3. God provides for our needs: Jesus miraculously provided the exact money needed. When we obey God and fulfil our responsibilities, He will provide what we need.
4. We should submit to authority: Jesus submitted to the religious system even though He was above it. This teaches us humility and proper respect for authority.

Paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22)

The story

The Pharisees and Herodians were enemies of Jesus. They wanted to trap Him in His words so they could accuse Him of wrongdoing. They came up with what they thought was a clever plan.

They sent some of their disciples to Jesus with a question. First, they flattered Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You are not swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.”

Then they asked their trap question: “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

This was a trick question. If Jesus said “Yes, pay taxes to Caesar,” the common Jewish people would be angry with Him because they hated the Romans and resented paying taxes to their oppressors. If Jesus said “No, don’t pay taxes,” the Roman authorities could arrest Him for teaching rebellion against the government.

But Jesus knew their evil intentions. He said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”

They brought Him a denarius, a Roman silver coin. Jesus held it up and asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

They answered, “Caesar’s.” The coin had the image and name of the Roman emperor on it.

Then Jesus gave His famous answer: “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When they heard this, they were amazed. They could not trap Him. They had nothing to say. So they left Him and went away.

The meaning

Jesus was teaching several important truths:

1. We have obligations to government: The coin belonged to Caesar’s system. By using Roman coins and benefiting from Roman roads, military protection, and legal systems, the Jewish people had an obligation to pay Roman taxes. Christians should pay their taxes and fulfil their civic duties.
2. We have higher obligations to God: We give to Caesar what is Caesar’s (taxes, obedience to just laws, respect), and we must give to God what is God’s. Everything is God’s, and our whole lives belong to Him. We are made in God’s image, just as the coin bore Caesar’s image. We should give ourselves completely to God.
3. There is no conflict between the two when properly understood: We can be good citizens and faithful Christians at the same time. We obey government authority while maintaining ultimate loyalty to God. Only when government commands us to sin should we disobey (Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than human beings”).
4. Wisdom in difficult situations: Jesus showed great wisdom in handling a difficult question. We should pray for wisdom when we face challenging situations.

Lessons from this story

1. Pay your taxes: Christians should pay their taxes honestly and fully. This is part of being a responsible citizen.
2. Respect government authority: God has established governments to maintain order. We should respect civil authorities as part of respecting God’s order (Romans 13:1-7).
3. Keep proper priorities: While we fulfil civic duties, our ultimate allegiance is to God. We live as citizens of an earthly nation, but our primary citizenship is in heaven.
4. Be wise: Jesus’s wisdom helped Him escape a trap. We should seek God’s wisdom in handling difficult questions and situations.

How did Jesus obey the law in His childhood?

The presentation of Jesus at the temple (Luke 2:22-24)

The story

When Jesus was forty days old, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. They were following the Law of Moses, which had specific requirements for the birth of a firstborn son.

According to the law, after giving birth to a son, a woman was ceremonially unclean for forty days. At the end of this time, she had to bring offerings to the priest at the temple: a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. However, if the family was poor and could not afford a lamb, the law allowed them to bring two doves or two young pigeons instead (Leviticus 12:6-8).

The Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph brought “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” This shows that they followed the provision for poor families. Even though Jesus was the King of kings and Lord of lords, He was born into a humble family that could not afford the more expensive offering.

By bringing Jesus to the temple and offering the required sacrifice, Mary and Joseph showed their obedience to God’s law. They were raising Jesus according to the commandments, teaching Him from infancy to respect and follow God’s word.

Lessons from this story

1. Jesus identified with the poor: From birth, Jesus was associated with poor, humble people. He understands the struggles of those who have little.
2. Obedience from the beginning: Jesus’s obedience to God’s law started from His infancy, with His parents acting on His behalf. This shows the importance of teaching children to obey God from an early age.
3. Fulfilling religious duties: Mary and Joseph did not ignore the law even though it required effort and expense. They travelled to Jerusalem and brought the offering. We should faithfully fulfil our religious obligations and worship commitments.
4. The law points to Christ: The sacrifice of birds was meant to atone for sin. Jesus, who would become the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, was the subject of this offering. The law pointed forward to Him.

Jesus at the temple as a boy (Luke 2:41-51)

The story

Every year, Jesus’s parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, as the law required. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual.

After the festival ended, Mary and Joseph started the trip home with a large group of relatives and friends. They assumed Jesus was somewhere in the group. But after travelling for a day, they realised Jesus was not with them. They searched for Him among their relatives and friends but could not find Him.

Worried, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to look for their son. After three days of searching, they found Jesus in the temple courts. He was sitting among the teachers of the law, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus was amazed at His understanding and His answers.

When Mary and Joseph saw Him, they were astonished. Mary said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

Jesus answered, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Even at twelve, Jesus understood His special relationship with God and His mission.

Mary and Joseph did not understand what He meant. The Bible says: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”

Even though Jesus was God’s Son with a divine mission, He returned home and was obedient to His earthly parents. He submitted to their authority for the next eighteen years until He began His public ministry at age thirty.

Lessons from this story

1. Early commitment to God: Jesus showed devotion to God and His word from childhood. Young people should also develop a love for God’s word and spend time in God’s house.
2. Obedience to parents: Even though Jesus was divine, He obeyed His earthly parents. This teaches children and young people to honour and obey their parents.
3. Growing in wisdom: The Bible says Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). We should also seek to grow spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially.
4. Faithful attendance at worship: Jesus’s family regularly attended religious festivals. We should faithfully take part in worship and church activities.

Evaluation

1. Define law and state three purposes of law.
2. Name the two main types of law in Jesus’s time and say who enforced each.
3. State four ways in which Jesus obeyed religious laws.
4. Why did Jesus pay the temple tax even though He was exempt?
5. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”?

Assignment

1. Write a short account of how Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple, and state two lessons from the story.
2. State four reasons why Jesus subjected Himself to the law.