Matthew 22:21b-22 Then [Jesus] said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Once again, the Pharisees are trying to trick Jesus into saying something that will get him into trouble—either with the religious authorities or the Romans. And once again, Jesus outsmarts them.
Is it okay to pay taxes to the government? the Pharisees ask. Of course, Jesus replies. Isn’t the emperor’s image imprinted on our coins? So much for the obvious.
Beyond instructing us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, Jesus is also telling us to give to God the things that are God’s. What might those things be? If we take Jesus’ analogy a little further, we may well find the answer.
MOVING FORWARD: If the emperor’s image on the denarius means those coins are ultimately his, then what does our being made in the image and likeness of God imply?
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