GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD’S

Passage: Matthew 22:15-22

Key verse: 21b

NIV

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](C) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(D) and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(E)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 (A)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how (B)to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent (C)their disciples to him, along with (D)the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, (E)we know that you are true and teach (F)the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for (G)you are not swayed by appearances.[a] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay (H)taxes to (I)Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why (J)put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.[b] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, (K)“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they (L)left him and went away.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 22:16 Greek for you do not look at people's faces
  2. Matthew 22:19 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

To trick and trap Jesus, the Jewish leaders asked him, “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” It was a question about the imperial authority over the Jewish people. It was a trap to make Jesus look either like a traitor to the Jewish nation or a danger to Rome. Showing the Roman coin which had Caesar’s image and inscription, Jesus said, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” The coin which originated from Caesar belonged to Caesar. They should pay their taxes, since they used what was Caesar’s. In the same way, what is God’s is to be given back to God. As citizens of the state, we are to pay taxes and to obey the civil law. Moreover, as those who have been coined in the image of God and as citizens of God’s kingdom, we also owe God what is God’s. Are we rendering to God what belongs to God? We owe him our thanks, our godly living daily, our service to his work, our wealth, and many other things. God is the Creator. Fundamentally, all things such as coins, Caesar, Rome, the earth, the universe, and our lives are God’s and under His dominion. Our life is like the coin of God’s life in this world. We may not enjoy our civil duties that a temporal and human government obligates us to. But if we recognize the importance of our duties, we must fulfill them. What then about our greater duties to God?

Prayer: Lord, I owe you everything. Help me fulfill my spiritual duties to you with a thankful heart.

One Word: Give to God what is God’s