GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S

Passage: Luke 20:20-26

Key verse: 25

NIV

Paying Taxes to Caesar(A)

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(B) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(C) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(D) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(E) and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

20 (A)So they (B)watched him and sent spies, who (C)pretended to be sincere, that they might (D)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of (E)the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and (F)show no partiality,[a] but truly teach (G)the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give (H)tribute to (I)Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their (J)craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me (K)a denarius.[b] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then (L)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people (M)to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 20:21 Greek and do not receive a face
  2. Luke 20:24 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Jesus saw through their duplicity (2

-23)

Direct confrontation had failed to subdue Jesus, so the religious leaders sent spies. Their flattery in verse 21 is true: Jesus teaches what is right and the way of truth because Jesus is the truth. His teaching was always trustworthy because he was motivated by love and righteousness. But Jesus was not impressed by their words. He saw through their duplicity and their crooked motive. Jesus sees our heart and motive, too.

2. Give to Caesar and to God (24-26)

Their question regarding taxes was loaded. Nobody likes paying taxes, then or now, especially taxes that support injustice and idolatry like they did in the Roman Empire. Using an illustration with a coin, Jesus taught them giving back to Caesar what is Caesar's is morally right. Rome's authority was given by God to manage the nation in economic and civil matters. (Ro 13:1) But as the coin bore Caesar's image, all people bear God's image. Their issue was not a tax problem but a desire to get, not give, even to God. Our lives belong to God, and Jesus teaches us to give to God what is God's.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, in whom you have redeemed me. Help me give back to you what is yours: my heart, my possessions-even my life.

One Word: Give to God what is God's