“But Jesus knew their evil motives. ‘You hypocrites!’ He said. ‘Why are you trying to trap Me? Here, show Me the coin used for the tax.’ When they handed Him a Roman coin. He asked, ‘Whose picture and title are stamped on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. ‘Well, then,” He said, ‘give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.’” (Matthew 22:18-21 NLT)
Though these verses are likely familiar to many, they include powerful insight, not only into some of the ways the Pharisees tried to “trap” Jesus, but into the brilliance and insight the Lord Jesus possessed. As is often His intention, He used common means to illustrate spiritual truth.
In the verses before the ones above, we learn that the Pharisees had partnered with the Herodians. This is laughable because, as a rule, the Pharisees and Herodians despised one another, but they wrongly believed if they joined forces, they would put Jesus in such a compromising position He would have to answer in a way that would reveal a weakness in His teaching.
Since He “knew their evil motives,” He also had insight into their hypocrisy. Herodians were Jews who supported Herod’s tax that was levied under Caesar’s authority. As a rule, the Jews fumed because of their subjection to any authority but their own. That’s why Jesus’ question to show Him a Roman coin was so ingenious. If He supported the position of the Pharisees, He would essentially deny that taxes should be paid, but if He took the Herodian’s view, He would support Caesar’s intolerable taxes.
By answering as He did, He flustered both parties and gave us insight into how we need to approach government in our world today. The question could be comparable to someone who would ask today, “Are you a Democrat or a Republican?” I understand there are other options, but for our purposes this question will do.
John Stonestreet wrote: “From first-century believers facing the hostility of the Roman state to the 20th-century Christians living under Communism’s terror to Christians living everywhere else between, the Church has found influence through “little platoons” of faithfulness in local communities and through the grand efforts of statesmen and heroes. Salvation won’t arrive on Air Force One, and a perfect world won’t come through the ballot box. But a better world is possible if all our actions, political and otherwise, flow downstream from our Christian convictions, and not the other way around.”
What’s my point? It’s immaterial if I’m a Democrat or a Republican if I don’t find my allegiance in my devotion to Jesus. Jesus, in the encounter outlined in the verses above, was essentially giving us a pattern whereby we can respect government and honor Him, but our “bent” is to always submit to His authority in and over our lives.
From a Biblical perspective we, as Jesus followers, have a dual citizenship. Heaven is our home, but while on earth we’re to give to “Caesar” what is his due. Which is? Submit to the laws of the government under which we find ourselves – pay taxes, obey the law, and pray for all who are in authority. But we must also honor and obey God.
When Jesus asked whose image was on the coin, obviously it was Caesar’s, but implied is the fact that God’s image is on every human heart. Sin has marred God’s image, but through trust in the Risen Christ we can have God’s image restored. Throughout our world today many live under very strict and ungodly rule, but the purpose of this post isn’t to elevate one governmental system over another, but to elevate Jesus and confirm that world rule, in whatever form it may come, can never change a person’s heart. Only Jesus can do that.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 