what does it mean to render unto caesar

When asked about paying taxes to the Roman government, Jesus responded past saying, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar'southward; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21, KJV). What did He mean? And what lessons does this education represent for the states today?

On what was probably Tuesday or Midweek of the week leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus was confronted by a group of Pharisees and Herodians and asked a question nearly one of the nigh controversial bug of the day.

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, proverb, Primary, we know that yard art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for whatever man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell usa therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18 Simply Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
twenty And he saith unto them, Whose is this paradigm and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Return therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar'due south; and unto God the things that are God's.
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Matthew 22, KJV

There are three lessons I immediately encounter from this passage which are applicable to us today. They are:

• Awareness
• Distance
• Mental attitude

Yes, I'm a Baptist preacher, so I enjoy employing acrostics and alliteration – when I tin can.

Let'south examine each of these…

Awareness

Jesus knew what was up with the Herodians and Pharisees. In verse 18, Matthew tells us that Jesus "perceived their wickedness," called them "hypocrites," and in a tone of rebuke, publicly challenged them to explain why they were tempting him.

When confronted with a challenge, including (and perhaps especially) when people assault us or try to "trap" us (as the Herodians and Pharisees in Matthew 22 were trying to do with Jesus), it's of import that nosotros have the sensation to know what's going on.

Too often, we react emotionally rather than reply thoughtfully.

Awareness begins with a strong prayer life and a sensitivity to the spiritual aspects of life. We are, as Paul tells the states, engaged in spiritual warfare, wrestling "not against flesh and blood," but rather against Satan and his forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

It'southward important that we sympathize the Enemy will utilize circumstances and people to trip us upward, slow u.s.a. down, discourage us, or defeat the states.

We must also exist enlightened of the people around the states and the context in which we live and operate.

This is what Jesus was getting at when He said to His disciples: "Behold, I send you forth every bit sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:sixteen)

This need for awareness is likewise bolstered by repeated biblical admonitions toward wisdom and discernment in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

In Jesus' instance, He knew that, while the Pharisees and Herodians had little in common, i of the things they did have in common was they saw Him every bit a threat. As the old proverb goes: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

To be articulate, the Herodians and Pharisees were cultural and political enemies. The Pharisees were strict adherents of Jewish laws and traditions, and bristled at both the Herodian dynasty also as Roman occupation.

The Herodians were members or supporters of Rex Herod's family and dynasty. Herod was of class not a Jew, only an Edomite who owed his dominion to Rome. He was a merciless, wicked, and paranoid male monarch responsible for neat suffering in the kingdom. And while Herod himself was expressionless by the time of Jesus, his descendants still ruled the region. The Herodians were those Jews aligned with Herod'south family and who compromised and curried favor with Rome and were tied to and benefited from the political, social, and economic interests of the region.

This is why Jesus called them "hypocrites." They were casting aside their principles in guild to gang up on Him.

Jesus was also aware that a straightforward "yeah" or "no" answer to their question would simply play into their hands. If He affirmed paying taxes to Caesar, then He would lose favor with the people and be associated with their Roman occupiers and the corrupt Herodians. On the other paw, if He said "no," He would be field of study to abort past Roman authorities for sedition.

Quite often, Christians discover themselves in like no-win dilemmas today – in politics, in business, on social media, at family gatherings, and in everyday conversations.

Like Jesus, we demand to strive to RISE Higher up the fray, and this leads us to the second lesson…

Altitude

Jesus' answer lifts the very nature of the chat to a whole new level.

He doesn't play their game. He refuses to reply on their terms. He refuses to allow Himself be a pawn on their board or to easily play into their trap.

Note that the Pharisees and Herodians initiate this conversation. They do so with a claiming. Jesus responds by calling them out as "hypocrites" and making articulate He know what they're up to by asking why they are tempting Him. And then….

Jesus establishes Himself equally the leader in this exchange by getting them to respond to His question — a question that was obviously rhetorical, since Jesus (even in His incarnate humanity) would take known Roman coinage bears the image of the Roman emperor.

Getting them to say "Caesar" as well sets up the argument that Jesus wants to make. They are now responding to Him and waiting on His answer. What's more, they have now said the name "Caesar" themselves, which trained teachers and public speakers know, will further "impact" what Jesus will say.

When a instructor, speaker, counselor, or coach echoes back the same words used by the student or listener, it sharpens the connectedness and primes the brain for deeper learning.

Jesus and so delivers His lesson: "Return therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God'south." (Matthew 22:21, KJV)

Here are Jesus' words in a more contemporary English translation: "Well, then,' he said, 'give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.'" (Matthew 22:21, NLT)

Annotation: In both of the above references, I'm simply quoting the part of the poesy containing Jesus' answer.

In case you're missing my point nigh mirroring back words for greater touch on, had the Pharisees and Herodians said "Tiberius" (who was the Roman Emperor at the time), Jesus would have nigh certainly said, "Give to Tiberius what belongs to Tiberius and give to God what belongs to God."

Jesus was (I should say "is," since He is very much alive) the Principal Instructor. Looking through the Gospels, nosotros can learn a great bargain of how Jesus connected with His audiences — and how nosotros can acquire a thing or ii from His example.

Jesus' respond worked, because rather than score a victory, His accusers "marvelled, and left him, and went their way." (Matthew 22:22).

Your goal in homo interaction, especially when you feel cornered or trapped, should be to provoke thought. Go out your readers or listeners with something to think on, to mull over, to reverberate on. Jesus did this routinely and masterfully.

Nigh importantly, past answering them at a college level, Jesus transformed an endeavor to trap Him into a teaching indicate that has stood for 2000 years equally part of recorded Scripture.

He took a question well-nigh taxes and answered with a principle much broader in scope.

And that leads us to the final lesson, which is from the instruction itself.

Mental attitude

Jesus tells us the verbal ATTITUDE nosotros're supposed to take when information technology comes to our interactions with civil authorities.

Information technology'south the same attitude we should have when it comes to our interaction with God. It's just that God's scope is so much greater than anything on this earth and in this life.

Simply earlier we get to what we owe God (spoiler: everything), permit's expect at what we owe Caesar.

If you purchase a house, you lot can't become mad when the mortgage comes due. You need to honor that mortgage. Same with buying a car. You need to pay for that car – either with one big bank check or with payments over time.

If yous go to work for XYZ, Inc, you lot need to work the hours you lot agreed to work, fulfill the duties you agreed to take on, and cooperate with company management.

Likewise, if a first century citizen of Jerusalem chose to remain living in Jerusalem, and thus take reward of all the benefits and privileges of living under the governing structure of that day, then such a citizen — to be consistent with his choice — shouldn't begrudge paying taxes or cooperating with the civil authorities.

This is what Peter is getting at when he says we should "submit to every ordinance of man" (I Peter 2:13) and "award the king" (I Peter 2:17). It'southward what Paul means when he tells the states to "subject unto the higher powers" (Romans 13:1), and "pay tribute." (Romans 13:vi)

Paul really drives it abode when he writes: "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fearfulness; honour to whom honour." (Romans xiii:vii, KJV)

Jesus, Peter, and Paul would all agree with the following statement…

If you're going to live nether Roman rule, and so willingly cooperate with Roman laws, taxes, and community.

The merely times we're allowed or expected to disobey or rebel against civil government is when God tells us to do and then (Exodus 1-two, Acts five:29, Daniel ii:21, Daniel 3, Daniel 6).

Ceremonious government plays a function in this fallen world, and we as God'due south people are expected to cooperate with that role.

As I write this, I am sitting in my office in my dwelling house in Ashburn, Virginia. My kids nourish public schools. I am protected and served by the local police and fire departments. If a medical emergency happened in my dwelling house, I can call 911, and an ambulance would come up my fashion. The roads I drive on are maintained at taxpayer expense. The country in which I alive is protected by an intelligence network, by national security measures, and by the men and women of our armed forces. I tin can go on.

The fact is, I live in a stable, peaceful, family-friendly community in the freest, nigh prosperous nation in globe history. Information technology'due south not too much to ask that I exist a respectful, revenue enhancement-paying, police-abiding citizen.

I realize the United States isn't perfect, and bluntly I believe God did call upon many of His followers to appoint in civil disobedience during some of the civil rights struggles in our nation's history. Simply, equally a general dominion…

Nosotros should cooperate willingly — with an attitude of giving — with the gild in which we live. That is Jesus' lesson in Matthew 22:21.

Of form, Jesus doesn't leave it there. He doesn't stop with Caesar. He adds that nosotros should "give to God what belongs to God." Well, what belongs to God?

Answer: Everything

God is sovereign over this entire universe. Everything is under His authority and ability. And that includes you and me.

Caesar Tiberius had his image inscribed on Roman coinage to affirm his authority over the Roman economy. When anyone transacted business in Rome, it was a reminder that they were conducting business in Caesar's empire. (Caesar was the state).

Well, whose inscription is on united states of america ?

Answer: God Himself

We are made in the image of God, and therefore we are God's.

God owns this entire creation, and He owns Heaven. And He owns yous and me. He owns anybody and everything, and He is entitled to everyone and everything.

There are some things to which Caesar is not entitled — like, for case, worship. But God is entitled to everything.

Nosotros owe Him our gratitude, our full allegiance, and our very lives.

Past giving these things to Him willingly, we show Him our love, since giving is the currency of love.

And this is the crux of the lesson.

Whatever life may throw at us — whenever enemies may come up against us — we must always remember that we are here to serve Him. And everything nosotros do or say should be to advance His kingdom and to bring honor and celebrity to Him.

He solitary is worthy of all that we have.

God bless you.

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Source: https://pastorbriantubbs.com/what-did-jesus-mean-by-render-unto-caesar/

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