"Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
Matthew 22:16-22
I've read the above passage many times, but never stopped to consider the true profoundness of what Jesus is telling us. Initially, I thought it was simply a matter of taxes and Jesus encouraging us to pay taxes. However, the beauty of this text transcends the notion of our responsibility to fulfill our civic duty. It delves into the reality of the imprint of God in regard to our very existence!
In the opening chapter of the Bible, we are faced with the creation narrative that ends with the creation of humanity – in which we read: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Therefore, as bearers of the image of God (Imago Dei), our very existence testifies to the greatness of our Triune God and the majesty of His creation. Just as the currency that was brought forth by the Pharisees and Herodians bore the image and supposed greatness of Caesar.
In realizing this, it made me understand more deeply why Jesus' opponents marveled at his response. Jesus showed them how they had missed the larger picture: we are made in the image of God to love the One who created us with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Everything else flows from that.
God bless you!
Zacher
