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?”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-four of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “Show me a penny”, and He asked, “whose image and superscription has it?” where we read:
Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription has it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
The verse reads, “Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription has it?” Luke began with the words, “show me a penny” or “bring forth to me, Jesus, to view a denarius which means containing ten”. “Whose image” which means “what person's figure and likeness” “and superscription has it” or “and title is upon the denarius”? Luke shared how Jesus asked the “spies” to “bring” a “penny or denarius” to Him, and He asked what person was on it as well as what “title” was written there.
The verse continues, “They answered and said, Caesar's.” Luke added the words, “they answered” or “the spies responded” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Caesar's” which 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. Luke shared how the “spies” responded to Jesus' question by answering “Caesar”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus used an “illustration” to respond to the “spies'” question as to whether is was “right” to pay tribute or not. Jesus told the “spies” to bring a “penny” to Him, and when they complied, Jesus asked them who the person was on the “coin” and what “title” was written upon it. They answered, “Caesar”. Jesus will continued His response in the next verse, however, for now let us carefully examine our own lives and determine whether we would understand where Jesus was going with this example. God created every person, and their sins separate them from a relationship with Him. Those who believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and be granted everlasting life with Him. Then they shall know the full meaning of being made in the “image” of God.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's”, 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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