Pharisees and Herodians come to him with the question whether
taxes should be paid to the Roman government. The Pharisees would say, “No”;
the Herodians would answer, “Yes.” If Jesus said one should not pay taxes, he
could be arrested as a subversive and revolutionary. If Jesus said one should,
he would be in trouble with the patriotic Jews who hated Roman dominance. Jesus
recognized that the inquirers were hypocrites and that they came to find
occasion to have him arrested. His answer caused his enemies to marvel at his
answer: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things
that are God’s.”
We have a tendency to put state and church into
water-tight compartments. We separate church and state to the extent Christians
often surrender the state to politicians and devote their time and talent to
the church. A Christian needs to understand and act in the light of the fact
that he is a citizen of two kingdoms, with responsibilities to each.
Jesus used a coin to answer the question of paying
taxes to Rome. On the coin was the image of Caesar and his inscription as the
supreme and divine being. What belongs to Caesar should be given to Caesar says
Jesus. The coin of commitment to Caesar requires our payment of taxes, our
service and obedience to the laws of justice.
The coin of commitment to Christ, the king of kings
requires of tithes and offerings, our service and obedience to the law of love.
As Jesus used this method of as a suffering servant to effect change so we too
follow in His wake.
A prayer for
guidance; Heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being, we humbly
pray You so to guide and govern us by Your Word and Spirit that in all the
cares and occupations of our life we may not forget You but remember that we
are ever walking in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [1]
[1] For Divine Guidance, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
With all your heart, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher
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