Render To Caesar....

The reply is awesome

It is brilliant – a stroke of genius.

And his accusers were stunned.

So much so that they didn’t try to coax more out

of him than that.

And over the centuries, theologians have argued about what Jesus meant.

One interpretation has been that Jesus’ reply is saying, “Yes pay the Romans their taxes”.

And others – in particular the liberation theologians of South America- have interpreted Jesus saying in a completely opposite sense.

“As Caesar is an invader and dictator who has not right here, he is not due anything at all – except the boot to get him out. “

I don’t agree that is what Christ meant

But whatever Jesus meant in the secular , let’s not forget that we are to pay God his due too if we are his disciples.

Conclusion:

What can we draw from this today?

The problem is not such a hot potato in our Western society as it was in Jesus day.

In the first century AD, the state and religion were closely joined. "The cult of the gods and the power of the ruler" went hand in hand (Matthew - Michael Green p. 232-233)

But it is a real dilemma in countries where the State (such as certain Islamic and Communist states) persecutes Christians and demands their religious allegiance away from Christ.

We all enjoy the benefits that the State brings.

What would we do without electricity, roads, rail and running water?

As Michael Green has so succinctly put it: in Jesus day, the Jews benefited from "imperial roads, education, justice and freedom from invasion.... Jesus was saying that those who enjoy Caesar’s benefits should pay Caesar’s taxes" (Matthew - Michael Green p. 232-233)

We can, as Christians, be good citizens in a secular society provided what that society asks of us does not contravene our commitment to Christ.

“Render unto Caesar’s the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are of God” (Mt. 22:21) cannot mean anything else.

For our ultimate loyalty lies with Jesus and our heavenly Father.

I was very taken by a remark Michael Green made in his commentary on Matthew.

In Jesus’ response to the Pharisee, he used the Greek word "apodote" which is translated render or give back. "The coin bore Caesar’s image: give it back to him. You bear God’s image: so give yourself back to him." (Matthew - Michael Green p. 234)

Not only is the answer “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” awesome but the challenge is awesome too.