The beloved physician Luke wrote concerning Jesus, “the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither accept you the person of any, but teach the way of God truly. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt you me? Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription has it? They answered and said, Caesar's.”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-five of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's” where we read:
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's,
and unto God the things which be God's.
The verse reads, “And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's,” Luke began with the words, “and he said unto them” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to the spies”, “render therefore unto Caesar” which means “deliver, discharge, give back and restore then, wherefore, consequently and on this account to Caesar whose name means severed and was 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” “the things which be Caesar's” or “whatever things that belong to Caesar”. Luke shared how Jesus told the “spies” to give “Caesar” whatever belonged to him.
The verse goes on to say, “... and unto God the things which be God's.” Luke continued with the words, “and unto God” or “and toward the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “the things which be God's” which means “whatever things belong to the Godhead bodily and trinity”. Luke shared how Jesus told the “spies” to give to “God” whatever belongs to Him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus answered the “spies” question in a wise way they would not be able to refute. He never said, don't pay taxes, nor did He say, “pay” them. Jesus simply told them to give to the “rightful” owners whatever was due to them. The “penny” had “Caesar's image and superscription” on it, and “people” had God's “image” upon them. (See Genesis 1:26) Jesus directed the “spies” toward what they should do responsibly toward the “governing authority”, and what they were to do with people who belonged to “God”. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to “save” people from theirs “sins”, and they were made in His “image”. When they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will “forgive” their “sins” and grant them everlasting life. At that point they will have a greater understanding of the “image” in which He made them.
Next time Luke shares how, “they could not take hold of his words before the people”, 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.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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