PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 22:15-22
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
The religious leaders are setting Jesus up, baiting him to defy Rome.
Jesus’s response avoids their trap, but what is Jesus actually saying?
The religious leaders implicate themselves with their opening words to Jesus.
They are not men of integrity, they do not teach the way of God with sincerity.
They are swayed by others because they pay attention to who they are!
How they treat Jesus shows that they honour themselves – and Caesar – above God.
As Jesus followers, our first loyalty should not be government or self but to Jesus.
Yet this does not mean rebellion against those who are in authority over us.
Jesus teaches respect for leaders, to treat them as humans with humility and grace.
We owe God and people love and respect – it is a permanent debt (Romans 13:8).
As good citizens, we submit to our leaders… unless they require us to sin.
If we must disobey, we do so with the same humility, respect and integrity as Jesus did!
This is the Jesus Way (Matthew 5:38-48), how we overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).
Jesus followers are to be good citizens, with respect, humility and integrity (Matthew 22:16).
PRAYER
Lord, your gracious Spirit reminds me that I owe respect and honor to everyone, whether I like them or not. Help me to be a good citizen of your kingdom, giving what I owe to those around me!
“You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?” I think as Jesus followers we have to be on our guard all the time. We are watched especially if people know we are Jesus people. People will try to trap us, however the same wise spirit that provided Jesus with the wisdom to outsmart these traps – we too have been given the gift of the HS to help us. Lord help me to be faithful and not get trapped into materialism and building an earthly utopia- rather to seek you kingdom first. Thank you Lord for your example!
The religious leaders again were trying to trap Jesus. They even had the coin ready to try to convict Jesus. Their confidence, their hope was in the man whose head was on the coin. That is where their allegiance was. But we can never divide our allegiance. I was created in the image of God and I owe my allegiance to HIM. Coins today may show the images of leaders and the words In God We Trust, and remind me that all things are the Lord’s. I can never divide that allegiance.
My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
Refrain:
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.
My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His, when He comes by and by.
I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.