Dear Chinonso,
There is a conversation in the New Testament that always leaves me in awe: it was an interaction between JESUS and the Pharisees. I believe it feels vibrantly new every time because of its implication for everyone who calls on the name of JESUS and has decided to be HIS disciple—obedient to GOD’s call by creation.
It began when some Pharisees were sent to trap JESUS in HIS own words (Mark 12:13). Matthew 22:16 adds that they were disciples of the Pharisees with the Herodians. After their flattery about HIS character and integrity, they asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar (Mark 12:14)—wanting HIS take on Roman taxation of Jews.
If JESUS said it was lawful, the Jews would doubt HIM as the Messiah, since that stance opposed their hope for liberation. If HE said not to pay, Rome would see HIS speech as inciting insurrection and seek to silence it. In a nutshell, JESUS stood to lose no matter what HE chose.
Why did they take this route? Because they may have understood from previous conversations that the only way the JESUS movement could be stopped was if it imploded. And why not? There is so much power and truth in HIS teachings. They knew only JESUS could end HIS own ministry. They knew the only force powerful enough to stop GOD is GOD. Even today, the enemy tries to use ‘a work of GOD’ to prevent “the work of GOD”—to distract, to water down, or to divide hearts and attention. No one but GOD can stop GOD and HIS will.
JESUS understood this, so HE taught the wisdom of GOD that cannot be foiled by human foolishness:
“But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, ‘Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.’ So they brought it. And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at Him.” — Mark 12:15-17 (NKJV)
If the coin bears Caesar’s mark, give Caesar his property. If anything bears GOD’s mark, give GOD HIS property. So they marveled.
This story teaches us to deal with people by their intentions, not just actions. The Pharisees appeared to seek knowledge, but JESUS discerned they sought to entrap HIM. As disciples, we should not be so caught up in the moment that we forget to address intentions before actions. This is the birth of wisdom: addressing the inner life before the outer charade.
Now if we follow the wisdom of JESUS in dealing with the enemy, we must rely on the Holy Spirit, who speaks from the depth of JESUS (John 16:13) and searches hearts (Romans 8:27), guiding us to truth even when deception is hidden. If you get this, then you can understand the core of HIS response.
JESUS commands balance. We are made in GOD’s image (Genesis 1:26-27); therefore, we belong to HIM, so we should offer ourselves to GOD (Romans 12:1) while giving Caesar what bears his image. So even though it seemed like a lose-lose situation, JESUS acknowledged earthly authority without demeaning the Heavenly Father’s sovereignty. We can be law-abiding citizens of an earthly nation while holding fast to heavenly citizenship. From this we know that we owe Caesar his due (taxes), but we owe GOD everything—undivided adoration, allegiance, and our very selves.
The balance here, however, is this: do not rob GOD to pay Caesar. Do not neglect allegiance to GOD for earthly dealings. In Matthew 16:26, JESUS asks, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” There is no perishable treasure that is more valuable than the imperishable treasures of everlasting life.
Steady in discernment,
Olatunde
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