Scripture for October 25: Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV)

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. ¹⁶ And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. ¹⁷ Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. ²⁰ And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” ²¹ 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.” ²² When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Here is the famous account of Jesus being asked whether it is right for people dedicated to God’s kingdom to pay taxes to Caesar, an earthly king. Strictly speaking, the lesson is about how Jesus handled opposition that was rising against him, but in this incident he is also showing us how to be both good citizens of God’s kingdom and of the nation in which we live, properly balancing the claims of each. See what you can learn from your own meditation on this passage, then join us next Sunday and we’ll talk about it together.

Pr. Steve