19 “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 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.” 22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.
The Herodians’ trick question about whether to give tax to Rome would have won the day against anyone else…but they were up against the One who created the very minds they were using in attempting to thwart Him. Jesus’ answer was at once deft and simple—as if so obvious that even a child could answer easily. Requesting a coin for His object lesson, the Lord asked whose image was on the coin. One can almost picture a teacher condescending to instruct his immature charges who should know better.
He asks one simple question, “Whose image is on the coin?” The answer was obvious. Jesus then replied that they should give to Caesar the things that belong to him, and to God the things that belong to God. On one level, Jesus expertly sidestepped their question. But the implications run deeper than at first glance. Clearly the coin belongs to Caesar in the political sense, but the thrust of the question had to do more with whether Jews should submit to Roman authority. And that is precisely the rub—the issue of submitting to authority!
The Jews were quite irritated at being ruled over by Rome, yet at the same time they were refusing to submit to the authority of God! The coin has the image of Caesar, but where was the image of God to be found? Every Jew knew well that they had been created in the image of God and bore His likeness, as Genesis 1:26-27 and 5:1 made clear. They were taught this from childhood. Furthermore they were the chosen people of God, and bound to Him in the covenant relationship as spelled out in the Law of Moses. So when Jesus said, “Render to God the things that are God’s,” that would mean those “things” which are stamped with His likeness—not mere coins, but something far greater, namely themselves.
The Jews had not “rendered to God, the things that are God’s,” but were living in rebellion. John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ message had all along been, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” This, in Jesus’ estimation, was a far greater concern than whether or not they should be submissive to Rome. They should be submissive to God! The Herodians left speechless and unbowed, but knowing they had been outwitted!
Lord, You created me in Your image and likeness and redeemed me by Your blood, so I belong to You twice over. I resubmit my life to Your purposes.
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