Gospel | Matthew 22:15-22 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours) by Bryan Fowler, Jacob Sooter, and Matt Maher

Lyrics:
Father let your kingdom come (holy holy)
Father let your will be done
On Earth as in Heaven (let it be done)
Right here in my heart

Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us forgive us
As we forgive the ones who sinned
Against us forgive them
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from the evil one
Let your kingdom come

It's yours it's yours
All yours all yours
The kingdom the power
The glory are yours
It's yours it's yours
All yours all yours
Forever and ever
The kingdom is yours

On Earth as in Heaven
Right here in my heart

Passage:
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.[a] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.[b] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Musical Reflection:
Children of the Heavenly Father (TRYGGARE KAN INGEN VARA), trad. Swedish folk song

Reflection Notes:
Lina Sandell-Berg purportedly wrote the lyrics for this hymn after witnessing her father’s untimely death in a boating accident. Her text focuses on our heavenly Father, who will never leave us or forsake us, in life or in death. The tune originates from a 19th-century Swedish folk song, its sweet fluidity well-suited for the words of comfort.

Prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.