“WHOSE IMAGE AND INSCRIPTION?”

Passage: Matthew 22:15-22

Key verse: 20

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

The Pharisees did not repent at Jesus’ parables. Instead, they joined with the Herodians (Herod represents amoral authority) in order to try and catch Jesus in a flattering trap. Should we pay taxes or not (15-17)? Either answer Jesus gave would undermine his influence, so they thought.

Jesus turned their trap into an opportunity to address a deeper issue. They fixated on the matter of taxes, which is related to Caesar, without any sense of the greater problem and narrative in their hearts and country. Jesus asks, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” Economics may be the purview of Caesar in which we participate at Caesar’s pleasure and rule. But the real issue is this: whose image and inscription do we bear?

We are made in God’s image (Ge 1:26-28), to reveal his glory by our obedient stewardship of God’s will on earth which is to receive the good news of forgiveness and freedom through Jesus Christ. In short, we belong to God, and therefore are to give ourselves to God. We give much attention to economics and concerns of this world. But what of the matter of greater importance? How am I giving myself to God, in practical obedience?

Prayer: Father, thank you for rebuilding your image in us through the gospel of Jesus. I’m often anxious and concerned for this world. Help me trust that I belong to you and so give myself to you daily.

One Word: Give to God what is God’s, ourselves