CEASAR’S AND GOD’S!

Matthew 22:15-21 (AMP) 

15  Then the Pharisees went and consulted and plotted together how they might entangle Jesus in His talk. 

16  And they sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be and that You teach the way of God truthfully, regardless of consequences and being afraid of no man; for You are impartial and do not regard either the person or the position of anyone. 

17  Tell us then what You think about this: Is it lawful to pay tribute [levied on individuals and to be paid yearly] to Caesar or not? 

18  But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked, Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me, you pretenders (hypocrites)? 

19  Show me the money used for the tribute. And they brought Him a denarius. 

20  And Jesus said to them, Whose likeness and title are these? 

21  They said, Caesar's. Then He said to them, Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and pay to God the things that are due to God.


Every nation’s currency, like the Roman coin, has someone of importance engraved on it. The Lord’s face was not engraved on the Roman coin but the emperor’s, hence the phrase “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s!” We’ve all used this expression, but some may not be aware that it originates from the Bible and from Christ, who first used it to forestall an argument with the Pharisees regarding the payment of taxes. The argument over the payment of taxes is still controversial today as it was in Jesus’s day. Should everyone pay taxes? It makes sense to give Caesar what clearly belongs to him—taxes—and our hearts, which clearly belong to God, must be given in submission to God.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees shows us that, as Christians, we cannot cut ourselves off from the affairs of the world but should never compromise our beliefs and values. The issue is the rightness of paying taxes. Is it right to pay taxes to governments of nations? The question is similar to those asked of politicians and church leaders today to try to get them to give simple answers to complex questions. Jesus did not discuss whether the current Roman government was just or unjust in their taxation, but He implied that it is right to pay taxes to Caesar (government).

There are all kinds of taxes depending on the nation and its needs. Even through the scriptures, we see again and again the payment of taxes or tributes, as stated in 1 Kings 10:25, where every man brought his present (meaning tribute), such as vessels of gold and silver, garments of very rich stuff, armour, spices, which doubtless sold well in that country, horses, which were very rare, and mules, the most necessary animal for all the purposes of life. These things were necessary to support the nation.

The difference between state administration then and now could not be more marked. The Welfare State has brought Caesar into education, health, and social policy. Caesar is not limited to defence or the administration of justice but is involved in every facet of our lives. The question is: How do we identify precisely what is Caesar’s so that Caesar can get his due and God His?

According to Romans 13:6, government leaders and those in authority are God’s servants. As the ministers of the state, they must provide for the safety and defence of their communities. It is necessary that those on whose behalf these expenses are incurred should defray that expense to the populace. All this is just and right, but unfair oppressive taxation, for the support of unprincipled and unnecessary wars, or the pensioning of corrupt or useless men is unfair. The taxes are to be paid for the support of those who are God's ministers—the necessary civil officers, from the king downwards. Should Christians pay taxes? Yes! In obedience to God and His servants (leaders).

We see Joseph in Genesis 41 set up a tax system to manage the famine of his time, and in chapter 47, he finally made land tax to Pharaoh a law. Titus 3:1 reminds us to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work. That means to be submissive to the authorities of the land. Christians need to have a healthy attitude toward the leaders and the law. We can do what our leaders tell us to do, which includes paying any tax we are not officially exempted from paying. Obey and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.

PRAYER: Lord God, help me to recognize and prioritize what belongs to You and what belongs to others, and never rob You or others of what belongs to them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/CEASERS-AND-GODS-e2uhtbr

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