To trick and trap Jesus, the Jewish leaders asked him, "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" It was a question about the imperial authority over the Jewish people. It was a trap to make Jesus look either like a traitor to the Jewish nation or a danger to Rome. Showing the Roman coin which had Caesar's image and inscription, Jesus said, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." The coin which originated from Caesar belonged to Caesar. They should pay their taxes, since they used what was Caesar's. In the same way, what is God's is to be given back to God. As citizens of the state, we are to pay taxes and to obey the civil law. Moreover, as those who have been coined in the image of God and as citizens of God's kingdom, we also owe God what is God's. Are we rendering to God what belongs to God? We owe him our thanks, our godly living daily, our service to his work, our wealth, and many other things. God is the Creator. Fundamentally, all things such as coins, Caesar, Rome, the earth, the universe, and our lives are God's and under His dominion. Our life is like the coin of God's life in this world. We may not enjoy our civil duties that a temporal and human government obligates us to. But if we recognize the importance of our duties, we must fulfill them. What then about our greater duties to God?


Application: Lord, I owe you everything. Help me fulfill my spiritual duties to you with a thankful heart.
One Word: Give to God what is God's