Matthew 22:15 – Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.  “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”   22 His reply amazed them, and they went away. (NLT)

American Christians have held this passage up as the call to support the government. I would say that this is rather easy for Americans to do when we live in a democracy, but would we have told people living under Hitler’s rule to support the government? This passage speaks to something far more powerful than paying taxes (and there are other passages in which Jesus speaks of, and pays, taxes).

The power of this passage is found in verse twenty-one: “give to God what belongs to God.”  We should consider what it is that belongs to God?  As Christians, we are taught that all of life belongs to God: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him” (Psalm 24:1).  The Apostle Paul tells us: “You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

If we believe the Bible to be the Word of God, then the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:21 should radically shape our entire lives. All that we do, all that we say, should be offered up to God. It’s not just our praise and worship that we offer to God, but our daily lives.

Today, let’s live as if everything we do – our words, our time, everything – is being given to God. 

Posted by Ramón Torres