He saw plainly the folly
of trying to transform the character of the state solely by the
coercive power of law. "Satan tempted Him to take the short
cut,--seize power over men and then change the character in men
(Matthew 4:8). To have become the kind of a king the Galileans
proposed in John 6:15 would have frustrated His mission. He sought in
society and politics what He sought in each man's life (Matthew 12:36;
23:26; Luke 6:45; John 10:10). Jesus was a true reformer."
4. Jesus taught obedience to the state and Himself strictly observed
what He taught. He paid His taxes (Matthew 17:24-27). He declared that
it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-21). When He
was unlawfully arrested, on a trumped up charge, He made no resistance
(John 18:1-9); this was not because He was not able to do so, for He
could have summoned more than twelve legions of angels to aid Him
(Matthew 26:53). Jesus thoroughly understood the corruption of His
times, and the character of the rulers. He said of Herod, when it was
told Him that he would kill Him, "Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I
cast out devils and do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I
shall be perfected" (Luke 13:32,33). He obeyed the law for a purpose
and the bringing in of a new order of things--the abolition of force
and the substitution for it of service in the kingdom of God.
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