Holy Week Guide | Tuesday
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Tuesday
MATTHEW 22: 15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 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. 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.
On this day of Holy Week, Jesus was teaching in the temple and a group of Jewish leaders approached him to continue their attempts to “entangle him in his words” and end his impact among “their” people. They asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar…?” A precisely calculated question and one that the leaders were sure was going to finally rid them of this “blasphemous” menace. In those days the Pharisees had vilified the ruling authority and taught the people, through oral tradition, that it was “sinful” to give them any respect at all, even paying taxes.
These leaders didn’t really care how Jesus answered. If he said yes, he would lose favor among the people and his influence would be shattered. If he said no, then he would be arrested by the Romans for inciting sedition. The Jewish leaders were sure they were about to see the end of Jesus as a cultural force.
But Jesus turned the question on its head and left them astonished yet again. He said, “Bring me a denarius...” Jesus looked and said, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They all knew the coin had a picture of Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome. It was his coin, made by his people, used as he allowed and meant to further his kingdom. Then Jesus said, “…render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” A pretty clear cut answer with a profound meaning. The text goes on to say they marveled at this. Why?
Jesus just avoided an inescapable trap while at the same time weaving in a religious lesson. Jesus just redefined their understanding of their relationship to the Romans.
But most importantly, Jesus just told them that because Caesar’s image was on the coin it was rightfully his, therefore they should give it to him. But Jesus took the answer to a whole new level when he tacked on, “..and to God the things that are God's”. You see, Jesus was at the temple and was surrounded by faithful Jews who had sat under the teaching of the religious leaders and knew all too well the Pentateuch, which is the first five books of the bible and the central concept in the religious Jewish tradition. By linking image-bearing with ownership, Jesus conjured up thoughts of Genesis 1:26, where God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
APPLICATION
Jesus’ teaching here was not simply a political one but was also a reminder that God’s image is reflected in the very essence of our being. Do you believe this to be true? If so, does your life reflect that belief ? We were created by him, we belong to him and are accountable to him, therefore, we should render unto God what is rightfully his, nothing less than our whole self.
PRAYER
Lord, make us a people that fully understand this truth. Through the Spirit’s leading, show us what you would have us do with the life that you have given us and how we may reflect your image in a way that brings you honor and glory. Lord make it so! Amen.
FAMILY DEVOTIONAL
THINK
Have you ever been to a museum and seen a beautiful portrait of a person? The artist has skillfully painted an image that represents what that particular person was like. The painting may have the same color of hair, skin, and eyes. The artist may have painted the same glasses, jewelry or clothing that the man or woman wore. But it is not actually that person --- the painting is not living and cannot speak, think, or breathe. It is just an image that reflects the likeness of a real person.
READ
MATTHEW 22: 15- 22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 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. 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.
Here we read about a time when Jesus wanted people to understand an important truth. The coin that Jesus showed the Pharisees had the image of Caesar, the king, on it. It wasn’t actually Caesar, it was just a reflection of what he was like.
Jesus was saying that, because the coin had Caesar’s image on it, then it belonged to Caesar. The Bible says that God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27). We are not God but we reflect what He is like. Since He created us and we bear His image, then we belong to Him. Jesus said that we should give to God what belongs to Him --- our lives.
SAY
“Dear God, thank you for creating me to bear your image and that I belong to You. Please help me to reflect your love, goodness, and beauty. Amen.”
DO
Cut a heart shape from paper. Write on the heart “I belong to God.” Tape the heart on your mirror. Each day as you look in the mirror and read the sentence on the heart, commit to reflecting God’s image to others that day.