Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.
“Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”
They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. — Matthew 22:15-22
Instructions:
- Read the passage
- Read the devotional
- Spend time in prayer
- Leave a comment
A couple of thoughts come to mind regarding this passage. First, since Jesus tells us to give that which bears Caesar’s image, the coin, to Caesar, it raises the question, “What do we give to God?” Obviously, the answer is that which bears God’s image, but what is that?
From Genesis 1: “Let us make man in our own image… in the image of God, male and female, he created them.” We bear God’s image, and thus it is our very selves that God expects of us.
Also, I find it particularly suitable that this passage, regarding our relationship to “Caesar”, falls this year on Independence Day in my church’s lectionary. We must always remember that our liberty is a gift from God, our Creator, not from our government. Caesar’s job is to protect and guard the liberty of his subjects; he is not its source. The same thing goes for morality. Caesar is not the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong—God is. When our government sets itself up as the determiner of morality, rather than its defender, whether through legislation, or courts, it is Caesar, back to his old tricks. Let us not give to Caesar that which belongs only to God.
BIG IDEA FOR THE DAY: What does giving to God what is God’s mean for you today?
Mark Peterson: markamypeterson (AT) gmail.com
