Render to Caesar

I have a confession to make I don't like paying taxes, at least not income taxs. But you know what? It's the law of the land and since we are to obey the law unless it goes against God's Word; I obey and pay those dreaded taxes. Welcome to the Panhandle and to my blog where each week I dig a little deeper into God's Word. To help me have a better understanding of God's Word and how I can apply it to my life I have been looking at the 49 General Commands of Christ Jesus. If this sounds good to you then come on in sit a spell and let's dig into God's Word together.

“Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to

them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”

They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that

are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:19–21).

Historically each ruler minted their own coins and put their own image on them. The “penny” (denarius) spoke of in this passage had Caesar’s image on it, and so it belonged to Caesar. “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” was Christ Jesus’ reply. “And give back to God what belongs to God.” In this simple, but profound reply, Christ Jesus taught some important truths.

Superficially Christ Jesus’ answer was in agreement with the Jewish teaching that men ought to pay taxes to their foreign overlords, since even the pagans, owe their position to God (Proverbs 8:15; Daniel 2:21, 37–38). But Christ Jesus’ answer is more profound than that and can be fully understood only in the light of the religion-state relations in first-century Rome.

The Jews, with their theocratic heritage, were ill-equipped to formulate a theological rationale for paying tribute to foreign and pagan overlords, unless, like the Jews of the Exile, they interpreted their situation as one of divine judgment. Jewish monotheism (the worship of one god) linked religion and state together, but they weren't the only religion to do so.

Paganism (a religion other than one of the main world religions, specifically a non-Christian or pre-Christian religion) customarily insisted even more strongly on the unity of what we distinguish as civil and religious obligations. Indeed, some decades later Christians faced the wrath of Rome because they refused to participate in emperor worship—a refusal that the Roman state judged to be treason.

Seen in this light, Christ Jesus’ response is not some witty way of getting out of a predicament; rather, it shows His full awareness of a major development in redemption history. Christ Jesus doesn't side with the Zealots or with any who expect His Messiahship to bring instant political independence from Rome. The messianic community He came to build must render to whatever Caesar was is in power whatever belongs to that Caesar, while never turning from their obligations to God. It was important to remember where Caesar claimed what was God’s, the claims of God had priority. God's claims still have priority over any and all governments.

What does this mean for us today? Christians must honor and obey rulers and the laws of the land. This is taught elsewhere in the New Testament. Christians have a dual citizenship, in heaven ~ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (Philippians. 3:20) and on earth. We must respect our earthly rulers (or elected leaders), obey the law, pay taxes, and pray for all who are in authority.

However above all Christians must honor and obey God. Caesar was not God. While governments cannot enforce religion ~ But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29), neither should they restrict freedom of worship. The best citizen honors his country because he worships God.

Man bears God’s image and owes God his all. Caesar’s image was on the coin; God’s image is on man (Genesis 1:26–27). Sin has marred that image, but through Christ Jesus, it can be restored (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).¹ Obey city, county, state and federal laws unless they are in conflict with God’s laws.

Pretty heavy stuff I know, but if we know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour it is how we should we should be living our life, a life that is pleasing to God.

Well that's all for this week, thanks for dropping by. Until next week may our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus richly bless you and yours.

Biblesurfer

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 80.