Ezra 4:11

Ezra 4:11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.  Ezra had kept a copy of the letter sent to the king by those who opposed the Jews.  This meant it had to be hand-copied.  He felt it was important enough to preserve it.  Sometimes, we may have to go to some effort to make sure that what is said is true.  

Verse twelve adds, Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.  This is the actual content of the letter. Those who sent it claimed that the Jews had come to Jerusalem to build a bad and rebellious city, though they were only rebuilding the Temple. The letter said the Jews had rebuilt the wall, though they had yet to even start working on it.  We should never be surprised when people today make false claims about Christians.  We can present the truth of what we have actually said and done, and they will still claim otherwise.  

Verse thirteen continues, Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.  The letter then claimed that once the wall was set up again the Jews would quit paying tribute, or taxes, to the king.  If you want someone to take action, one of the quickest ways is to say that what someone is doing is hurting them financially.  We hear people say today that Christians do not pay their fair share of taxes, but as long as we aren't cheating, then there should be no reason for this claim to have merit. 

Verse fourteen states, Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;  The letter also said that if the Jews quit paying tribute, it was going to hurt those writing the letter financially as well and bring dishonor to the king.  Basically, they were worried about their maintenance from the king’s palace.  Those who are being financially rewarded by the government are always going to worry about those who in their opinion are not paying their fair share of the taxes.   I believe this is usually more personal than out of a real concern for the government. 

Verse fifteen adds, That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. The letter said that if the king looked at history, he would see that the city of Jerusalem had been rebellious and seditious before, which wasn't true.  People too often try to rewrite history to make it support their beliefs. 

Verse sixteen adds, We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.  The letter warned that if the city and the walls of the city were rebuilt, that the king would no longer have any power on this side of the river.  Though we as Christians should never be a threat to the government, we are under the true power and authority in the world, and that is Jesus Christ.  By His death, burial, and resurrection, He claimed authority over everything, even death. Of course, God always had this authority, but had He just exerted it, mankind would have been doomed due to the sin of each individual, but through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, He made everlasting life with the Heavenly Father possible.