Spent For God

Spent for God

This passage remains one of my all time favorites. I love it because Jesus took a simple thing like a coin and crushed his enemies who were trying to trap him.

It is just beautiful in its power and simplicity. It is pure Jesus.

Interesting Things about Coins.

Coins represent a specific value or denomination. The issuer of the coin determines the type of metal to be used and the value that is to be associated to the coin. Often the issuing body also inscribes the coin with the image of the crown or state or king.

This image represents the true owner of the coin and also the authority under which it was issued. The coin is circulated under authority of the governing power and can be used in exchange for things of value. This is basically our monetary system.

The metal used is drawn from the earth and it is considered precious since it is in limited supply and takes great effort to be drawn from the ground and then refined and cast into coins. Taxes are a demand from the state to pay for services rendered such as roads, police or army required to maintain safety as well as other daily requirements for good governance in a society.

Jesus was required to pay his share in taxes too. There were temple taxes and temporal taxes to be paid. What is amazing is the way in which Jesus addressed these issues by using one small coin.

Jesus gives us great insight on how we are to approach todays subject. Actually He gives this advice over and over and puts it into almost every conversation he has with us through the New Testament that concerns money. We just have to have our eyes open to see it.

Jesus asks his questioner whose image is on the coin? The answer is why Caesar of course! Its a no brainer and what was supposed to have been a trap set for Jesus by the religious ruling class becomes a humiliating defeat and a lesson in authority and righteousness.

Church, as we prepare for Easter we need to reflect, review and re-examine our lives in the light and life of Jesus Christ. Today let us do this by looking at a simple coin and learning a lesson from Jesus.

The coin that Jesus refers to is not only a physical representation of payment but it is also a metaphor for what God expects from us in terms of payment for the life we enjoy.

Just as there is an authority that issues the coin Jesus talks about. There is an authority that issues our lives. We bare the image of God since we are made in His image.

Genesis 1:27

So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We are the property of God since He made us from the soil of His earth.

7 Then the LORD God formed a man [c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

We received the eternal breath of God that is why we have eternal life.

We are designed by God to represent a specific value or denomination. A one ounce silver dollar has a certain purpose; a one ounce gold dollar has another purpose. They both have value but one can achieve more than the other. We are the currency of God. He can spend us as He sees fit.

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

We are precious to God and that is demonstrated by the effort He has gone to design, forge, and mold us into the image we bare today. If we allow the life of Christ to speak to us then God can continue to mold and form our lives into something truly precious and valuable in His eyes.

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

It is our Fathers will that we be found valuable, worthy, useful and identified with His work. Our goal is to live a Christian life in such a manner as to bring Glory and Honor To God in the way that Jesus demonstrated to us.

Think for a moment how many times Jesus refers to parables about coins or value or earning interest etc. etc.

Matthew 13:44

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

Matthew 18:21

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Borrowed money.