Two groups of enemies, the Pharisees and the Herodians, put aside their differences to focus an attack on Jesus. They both wanted Jesus dead, so they tried to stir up trouble by asking him a question about taxes: "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
If Jesus said yes, they knew he would disappoint his own people, who thought he had come to free them from Roman oppression. And for that they might turn against him. If Jesus said no, he would be defying the Roman rulers. The religious leaders could then turn him over to the authorities to be punished.
"But Jesus knew their hypocrisy." So he asked for a Roman coin and said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
What, then, was he saying belonged to Caesar? In that day, the tax for each person was a day's wages. And what belonged to God?
The answer to that is simple: everything!
Jesus acknowledged the authority of the Roman government, and he pointed out that God's authority was far higher. With this brilliant illustration, Jesus called the people to surrender their whole lives to God.
For us this means recognizing that our money, possessions, time, gifts, relationships--all things--belong to God and that we are to honor God in the way we use them.
Father, help me to honor those who are placed in authority over me. And, most of all, help me to honor you with the use of my time, talents, and treasures. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Kevin DeRaaf
Kevin DeRaaf is the director of Resonate Global Mission, the Christian Reformed mission agency working in more than 40 countries around the world. With a focus on encouraging others to join in God’s mission where they are, Kevin believes that God’s purpose for the local church is to shine as a community of love and grace, showing in tangible ways that Jesus is the hope of the world. He and his wife, Jacquie, have three children and four grandchildren and live in Burlington, Ontario.
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