“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words … ‘Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” (Matthew 22:15, 17-22)
This true story from the Bible is instructive for us today. First, we see that the motive of the question was to entangle Jesus in his words. The question is a trap question. At least they thought it was.
Second, we should see that Jesus was aware of what they were doing. Not only was he able to satisfy their question, but he also caused them to marvel.
Third, we should pay attention to Jesus’ words and not just the effect of them. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus pointed out two domains, Caesar’s and God’s. Both touched the lives of the Pharisees, though they would have said their devotion was solely to God’s kingdom. The use of the coin to make his point was brilliant. The Pharisees couldn’t dodge it because they used those coins in daily life.
Like the Pharisees, our daily lives intersect the same two domains. The question I face is, which domain do I give more of myself to? Which has the greater effect on me? I belong to God. But do I render myself more to Caesar or to God? I’m afraid that I may live as though I belong to Caesar.
Father, help me evaluate my heart and my allegiances, so that I appropriately render to you what is yours. Amen.