You Don't Belong to Caesar - give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. God created mankind in his own image. The coin bore Caesar’s image, so it belonged to Caesar. We bear God’s image, so we belong to God. The Pharisees were playing a dangerous political game with Jesus. In response, Jesus addressed the condition of their hearts. He exposed their hypocrisy and evil intent by pointing to the truth: they bore God’s image. They belonged to God, but they hadn’t given themselves back to Him. You don’t belong to Caesar. You belong to God. You bear His image, so give yourself back to Him

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome from AD14 until AD37. 

Like so many rulers before and since, he had coins minted in his own honor, representing his rule over his kingdom.

In Matthew 22 we see that the Pharisees sent two groups of people to ask Jesus a question … some of their own disciples and some disciples of their rivals, the Sadducees. 

Their goal was to trap Jesus by asking whether it was right to pay the imperial tax, and the competing views of these disciples were intended to put pressure on Jesus from both sides.

How was this a trap? 

Well, if Jesus said it was wrong to pay the tax, He would be seen as a rebel against Rome … a criminal. 

If Jesus said it was right to pay the tax, He would be seen as a collaborator with Rome … a traitor. 

Jesus, of course, saw right through this:"But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 

"Show me the coin used for paying the tax. 

"They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, Whose image is this? And whose inscription?' 

"'Caesar’s, 'they replied. 

"Then he said to them, 'So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.'" - Matthew 22:18-21

When they heard this, they were amazed. 

So, they left him and went away.

At first glance, it looks like Jesus neatly avoided their trap … that He once again found a way to escape from a difficult situation. 

He did, but there’s more to it than that. 

Jesus turned the tables on them.

How? 

Here:

"So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."

Every Jew would instantly recognize Jesus’ reference to the very first chapter of the Bible.

"So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27-31

Do you see? 

The coin bore Caesar’s image, so it belonged to Caesar. 

We bear God’s image, so we belong to God.

The Pharisees were playing a dangerous political game with Jesus.

In response, Jesus addressed the condition of their hearts. 

He exposed their hypocrisy and evil intent by pointing to the truth: they bore God’s image.

They belonged to God, but they hadn’t given themselves back to Him. 

They were amazed and went away.

These days, it seems everything is political, from the price of eggs to the cost of war. 

Everybody wants to know where everybody else stands. 

Who will you vote for? 

Which side are you on? 

Are you a friend, or an enemy?

Don’t play the game. 

Disentangle yourself from modern-day Pharisees and Sadducees, who are trying to trap you into pledging your allegiance to them. 

You don’t belong to Caesar. 

You belong to God. You bear His image, so give yourself back to Him.

GodWords Newsletter #73

Tony Scialdone

GodWords

Theology. Apologetics. Maker of websites. Listener of music. Tell your dog I said hello.

substack.com

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