Jesus saw through their trickery and said, “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well then,” He said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Luke 20:23-25 (NLT)
Some of Jesus’ final conversations were on His crucial-to-teach-before-death list, while others were initiated by those trying to trap and arrest Him. This lesson subtitled Paying Taxes to Caesar falls in the latter category.
Cleverly, Jesus not only avoids the trap, His response teaches a lesson far more important than paying taxes.
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Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God, as determined by its imprint.
A Roman coin was imprinted on one side with a portrait of Emperor Tiberius and on the other side the inscription: Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus (italics mine). Jesus was distinguishing between God’s divinity and the idolatrous claims of the Emperor.
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Give to Caesar this coin, but dedicate to God that which bears His imprint. All of Creation bears His mark, but in particular, God created human beings in His own image (Genesis 1:27).
You belong to God.
Due to sin, you were separated from Him – lost. But on the cross, Jesus redeemed you - which literally means to purchase back something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.
Have you forgotten that you’re stamped with God’s divine image? Give to God what belongs to God.
These Holy Week articles would be perfect to repost on Facebook or Twitter or to forward through email. Scatter seeds as the world recognizes Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.
#seedsofscripture #HolyWeek #Easter #Jesus #ImageofGod
