Render to Caesar and to God - Matthew 22:21

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle” Jesus “in his talk. Tell us therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why do you tempt me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-one of his book Matthew shared how Jesus told the Pharisees' students, “render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's” where we read:

They say unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

The verse reads, “They say unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;” Matthew began with the words, “they say” which means “the Pharisees' students uttered, declared, proclaimed and answered” “unto him” which refers to “Jesus”, “Caesar's” or “the surname of Julius Caesar which adopted by Octavius Augustus and his successors afterwards became a title, and was appropriated by the Roman emperors as part of their title and means severed”. Matthew shared how the students of the Pharisees answered Jesus that “Caesar's” “inscription and title” was upon the coin, so Jesus told them to “give Caesar” everything that is his.

The verse continues, “and unto God the things that are God's.” Matthew added the words, “and unto God” which means “and to the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “the things that are God's” which means “whatever belongs to the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”? Matthew shared how Jesus further instructed the students of the Pharisees to give “God” everything that belongs to Him.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how wise Jesus was in answering the “Pharisees' disciples” question about whether they should pay “tribute or not”. He simply told them to give “Caesar” what is his, and give God what is His. People are made in the “image of God”, and His desire is to “save” people from their sins through His Son Jesus that they might live with Him eternally. Jesus answered the students of the Pharisees in such a way that they could not refute His response, and they in no way could “ensnare” Him in His words. All who are wise shall realize God wants people to be with Him, and though they doubt, He is ready to respond to any question they present to Him.

Next time Matthew wrote how the Pharisees' students, “when they heard these words, they marveled”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.