Joel M Bradshaw

20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

26They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.–Luke 20

1. Some in Jesus’ day wanted an excuse to oppose their Roman overlords.
2. Others simply wanted a soundbite from Jesus in order to politically trap Him.
3. Jesus obviously saw through their ruse and didn’t give them what they wanted.
4. According to Jesus: pay your taxes.
5. What belongs to God? Your heart and motivations, which should influence all that you say and do.
6. Not rendering unto Caesar might end in earthly punishment.
7. Not rendering unto God ultimately ends in eternal Hell.–JMB