Luke 20:20-2620And 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. 21And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: 22Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. 25And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's. 26And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace. (Luke 20:20‑26)
Men of Jerusalem tried every day to find cause against the Lord Jesus that He should be punished. They knew if they could tempt Him to speak against the ruler or the tax required, the governor would irison or punish this nation had not always paid tax, or tribute, to another country: God had given them that land to be free. But, when they disobeyed His words year after year, He let other nations conquer them. At that time the Roman power was over them, and the ruler was one of the Caesars.
The men thought Jesus would say they should be free, and so speak against Caesar: they asked Him, “Is it lawful (right) to pay tribute to Caesar, or no?”
Jesus said for them to show Him a penny: that was a Roman coin of more value than our penny, having the name and likeness of the ruler engraved on it, as money often has now. The men showed Him a penny, and He asked them whose name and likeness were on it. They answered, “Caesar’s.”
Then He said to them, “Render, therefore, unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s.”
Jesus knew that their sins had brought them under the tax, and until they repented to God for the sins, they must be under other rule, and should pay the tax. He did not speak against Caesar or the tax, so they found no cause to report Him, as they hoped to.
But there were other words Jesus said to them: they were to give “to God the things which be God’s.” All things belong to God, for we are told, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof”, even “they that dwell therein.” Psalms 24:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1).
The metal that penny was made from, had been placed in the earth in creion, and meant for men to use for good. Money was not what God wanted; but thankfulness and obedience to His words.
The men who came to tempt Jesus, knew they had not obeyed God’s words, and they saw that Jesus understood their plan to try to have Him speak against the ruler. They “marveled” at His wise answer, yet they were not sorry for their sin.
Jesus’ answer shows how perfect He was in all His words: many wrongs could be found in our words, but none in His. Do you remember when Peter was asked if His Master, Jesus, paid the tax, Jesus did not want those who did not know Who He was to think a wrong. Surely He should have been free, since “all things were made by Him” (John 1:33All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)). He had taken the place of a very poor man on earth; it would seem lie had no money, but He knew where to send Peter to obtain a coin, which was enough for both His and Peter’s tax.
Several years after Jesus lived on earth, some of the people who believed in Him were living in Rome, the capital of that same power who required tribute. We might think, there, they could ask to be free of paying, but they also were told, “Pay ye tribute.... render therefore to all their dues.” Romans 13;6,7.
ML 12/02/1945