Giving Caesar What Is God’s
"Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Luke 20:25 | NIV
The first century Jews were oppressed by Rome in many ways—inflated taxation was one of them. Rome enforced a special tax on subject peoples that wasn't levied on Roman citizens.
So when the religious leaders asked Jesus whether they should pay this tax or resist, it was both an honest ache and a carefully baited trap since He’d be in hot water no matter which side He took.
Jesus has them bring him a Roman denarius—a coin with Caesar's image imprinted on it—and simply says,
Give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar.
Give to God what belongs to God.
His response is cunning and wise and delicate and nuanced.
He's showing us we live in two realities.
REALITY 1 — THE WORLD
The first is inherited by birth. The culture, systems, ideologies and families we're born into all shape the way we interact with the world. We are nurtured (or neglected) by our parents, learn from whatever school is within walking distance, develop relationships with those in our communities, work the jobs in our reach, and are at the mercy of our governments to give us freedom or suffer under oppression. We also inherit the patterns of sin that have transferred through generations and have become saturated in culture. By default our worldview is deformed from its original intent.
In a word, this is our circumstance.
REALITY 2 — THE KINGDOM
But for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord, following Him opens up a second reality—the Kingdom of God—which stands apart from the kingdoms of this world (Jn. 18:36). Jesus' plan to redeem the world is to provide eternal salvation through His sacrifice and establish the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. The Kingdom allows us to live out the Eden-born dream for creation. The power of sin is broken and we don't have to breathe its air. We can choose, through the power of the Spirit, to walk in the light (Eph. 5:8-9). The Kingdom is experienced when we let Jesus rule and reign in our hearts.
In a word, this is our transcendence.
Jesus wants to teach us that though the image of Caesar is on a coin, the image of God is on every human heart.
We can live under Caesar’s rule without belonging to Caesar’s world.
Being "citizens of Heaven" (Phil. 3:20) gives us the ability to live "in plenty or in need" and still be able to find contentment in all circumstances (Phil. 4:12). Even in difficulty, hardships, and persecutions we can say, "when I am weak, He is strong" (2 Cor. 12:10) and "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).
As "foreigners and exiles" in this world (1 Pet. 2:11), our purpose, hope, and trust is not found in the presidents on our pennies or in the systems that surround us.
The Kingdom gives us "eyes to see" right past the false idols of fame, pleasure, and riches and can endure the mockery and the rejection because our "temple" is already full of the presence of God (1 Cor. 6:19) and our names are already written in Heaven (Lk. 10:20).
The image of God stamped on us allows us to pay taxes and walk the extra mile when forced to walk one (Matt. 5:41).
It allows us to be thrown in jail and witness to the guards (Acts 16:31).
It allows us to resist hope in wealth and have peace when the stocks soar or crash (1 Tim. 6:17).
Because the world can have what the world has given. But only God can have what He has given.
As we often say,
"We are in the world but not of the world." (Jn. 17:14-15 Paraphrase)
The closer I look at Jesus' cunning response, the more I see Him pointing us to pure worship.
Giving the world what is God's is idol worship.
Placing your identity in a career or a relationship
Using your gifts for selfish gain
Storing up treasure on earth
Allegiance to a political party over the Kingdom
Giving God what is the world's is unacceptable worship.
Trying to please God with your accomplishments
Prioritizing projects over people
Praising God with your lips while your hands are full of injustice
Giving God what is God's is pure worship.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 | NIV