Caesar’s and God’s

Luke 20:20-26

Key Verse 20:25

“He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.””

1. Read verse 20-22. Why did the teaches of the law send spies to Jesus? (20) How did they initially praise Jesus? (21) How might their question have trapped Jesus? (22) What could be our answer for this question?

2. Read verses 23-24. What did Jesus see? (23). What did Jesus tell them to do and what question did he ask them? (24a) What was their answer? (24b)

3. Read verses 25-26. What did Jesus tell them to do? (25). What is Caesar’s and what is God’s? What was their response to what Jesus said? (26) How should we manage what is Caesar’s and what is God’s?

Caesar’s and God’s

Luke 20:20-26

Key Verse 25

“He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.””

Introduction

In today’s passage, the teachers of law sent spies to Jesus and asked him a hard question. They asked whether they should pay taxes to the Roman government or not. Jesus’ answer to them was, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through Jesus’ words, we can learn how to properly carry out our duties as both citizens of this world and the kingdom of God.

1. Read verse 20-22. Why did the teachers of the law send spies to Jesus? (20) How did they initially praise Jesus? (21) How might their question have trapped Jesus? (22) What could be our answer for this question?

1-1. Read verse 20-22.

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

1-2. Why did the teachers of the law send spies to Jesus? (20)

• Maybe public opinion had kept them from laying hold of Jesus.

• Now Jesus’ enemies try to turn the tide of public opinion against Him by making Jesus appear to side with the Roman government.

• They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said and hand him over to the Roman governor. The ultimate goal was to kill Jesus through the authority of the governor.

• To set up their trap the teachers of the law had kept a close eye on Jesus, examining every word he said. They didn’t come to Jesus with the motive to know Him personally but instead to find fault with Him.

• These spies pretended to be sincere. They were wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.

• Because of their impure motive, they couldn’t get any benefit from what Jesus said or did.

• Those who see what Jesus does and listen to what he says with a sincere heart and believing mind can find the treasure of heaven in Jesus.

1-3. How did they initially praise Jesus? (21)

“Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

• They praised Jesus highly with beautiful words ; 1) you speak and teach what is right, 2) you do not show partiality, 3) you teach the way of God, 4) in accordance with the truth.

• They pretended to believe Jesus’ teachings were right and true.

• They praised Jesus in hopes that Jesus would put his guard down.

1-4. How might their question have trapped Jesus? (22)

“Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

• Paying taxes to Caesar or to the Roman government was a hot issue among the people of Israel. The people hated to pay taxes to Rome.

• Since 6 A.D. the Jews were forced to pay taxes which went directly into the emperor's treasury.

• Some Jewish patriots known as “the Zealots” refused, not wanting to recognize Roman rule as legitimate.

• Paying taxes to Caesar meant surrendering to him and serving him as their master.

• It was not acceptable for the Israelites to serve a Gentile king as their master because they believed they were a chosen people who were set apart to serve God only.

• If Jesus said “Yes” to their question, people would get angry and reject His teaching. People would not listen to and follow Jesus anymore.

• If Jesus said “No”, he could be arrested for inciting people against the Roman government.

• Either way, this question was intended to get Jesus in trouble. To put Jesus in a trap, they designed this shrewd question.

• Despite their ill intentions, this question was still a serious and important one. For God’s people, it was a hard question to answer.

1-5. What could be our answer for this question?

• Personal answer required!

2. Read verses 23-24. What did Jesus see? (23). What did Jesus tell them to do and what question did he ask them? (24a) What was their answer? (24b)

2-1. Read verses 23-24.

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.

2-2. What did Jesus see? (23).

Jesus saw their duplicity, the dishonesty that is meant to trick someone.

• Even though they tried to trick Jesus with their deceptive words, Jesus knew their true intentions.

• We may be able to deceive others with our words but we can’t deceive God.

• We should be honest without duplicity before God.

2-3. What did Jesus tell them to do and what question did he ask them? (24a)

“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

• Instead of having an argument with them about the issue, Jesus helped them to find the answer for themselves very practically.

• Just as the coins we have today have images and an inscription, the coins at that time had the same.

• The images and inscriptions show whose authority and which government the coin belongs to.

• It is most likely ‘Tiberius’ coin’ based on Luke 3:1.

• The Greek word for “penny” is denarius, a Roman coin. They show Tiberius Caesar, the emperor when Christ was crucified.

• He had reigned for almost twenty years, so many denarii in circulation would have been his, and the coin they brought to Jesus probably looked exactly like this.

• Although our Lord apparently focused on the front, the back also is interesting. The seated woman may be Livia (wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius), Justitia (goddess of justice), or Pax (goddess of peace).

• The inscription “PONTIF MAXIM” is a shortened version of “Pontifex Maximus,” the high priest of the idolatrous Roman state religion.

• By the time of Tiberius, the emperor was the high priest. “PONTIF MAXIM” on the coin claimed imperial authority over worship.

• The head is Tiberius Caesar with a laurel wreath. The Romans held a “triumph” to celebrate military victories, a parade to display the captives and spoils of war and honour the victors.

• The conquering commander would wear a laurel wreath. The coin honours Caesar’s authority as a conqueror.

• By asking, “Whose is this image?” the Lord Jesus drew their attention to this image and forced them to acknowledge it as Caesar’s.

• The inscription is “TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS,” an abbreviation of “TIBERIVS CAESAR DIVI AVGVSTI FILIVS AVGVSTVS” — “Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus, Augustus.”

• The inscription called Tiberius the son of a god, Augustus, and also “Augustus” himself.

• The primarily religious title “Augustus” meant “majestic.” Tiberius was a step-son and (later) an adopted son of the (so-called) divine Caesar Augustus, but this coin claimed the “divine” role / title “Augustus” had passed down to Tiberius. “Augustus was divine, and now I his son am Augustus.” Not a son genetically, he claimed to be a son in divinity.

• The worship of the emperors as gods was not as fully developed as it would be later, but the inscription claimed divinity for both Augustus and his adopted son. Jesus drew their attention to the inscription, as well as the image, before He answered their question.

2-4. What was their answer? (24b)

They replied, “Caesar”

• Caesar’s image and inscription were on the coins that the Israel people were using at that time.

• It clearly shows that the Roman government issued these coins and that people used money under the Roman currency system.

• Israel’s people were living under the Roman government’s ruling and her system.

• The coin shows this reality and truth obviously.

3. Read verses 25-26. What did Jesus tell them to do? (25). What is Caesar’s and what is God’s? What was their response to what Jesus said? (26) How should we manage what is Caesar’s and what is God’s?

3-1. Read verses 25-26.

He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

3-2. What did Jesus tell them to do? (25).

“Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

• Had the Jews rendered God His due, they would have never had to render Caesar anything.

• The fact that they were under Roman domination was due to their own departure from the Lord.

• The blessings and curses of the Mosaic Law said that an obedient Israel would be a free Israel.

Deuteronomy 28 reads,

The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. 12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed,because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever. 47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, 48 therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagles wooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,

• Jesus’ answer was also very clear. To him, paying taxes was not a complicated matter.

• Paying taxes and serving God did not conflict with each other as the people thought.

• The only thing they needed to do was to figure out what belonged to Caesar and what belonged to Caesar and give back to each accordingly.

• It is OK to give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s. This was even their basic duty.

3-3. What is Caesar’s and what is God’s?

• Caesar’s is the authority and the government system that God established or allowed for the order of human society.

• Caesar’s are the duties that we have to carry out to maintain the social system that we are living in such as paying taxes and observing the laws.

• The authority of leadership, social law, government system are established by God.

Romans 13:1-7 reads,

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

• We should carry out our duties as citizens of this world for we respect God’s will. Ignoring this duty is not right before God.

• “God’s” refers to the things that belong to God and that we are supposed to give Him.

• Just as the denarius bears the image of Caesar, every human being is created in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26-27 reads,

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

• If we pay taxes to Caesar, how much more should we give offering to God! Not only so, but our very lives belong to him, and should be yielded to his purpose.

• This is because it is not only Caesar’s, but this world is God’s world, and he has entrusted it to us as stewards.

• As the coin belonged to Caesar because his image was stamped on it, we should give ourselves to God because His image is stamped on us.

• Giving ourselves is to give your life to God. Jesus' answer may also tell us that Caesar does not have all authority.

• There are things that should be rendered to God alone, for he is the very owner of our lives.

• In the same way, there were instructions to offer a peace offering in Leviticus 3 with required all the fat (the best portion) and blood (our lives).

• When the State steps on this holy ground that belongs to God only, we are suppose to obey God before the State.

• Instead of focusing on getting from Him, we better trust in Him and His Sovereign rule and obey him.

• We should give honor, glory, love, submission, offering, sacrifice, service and prayer to him.

Revelation 4:11 reads,

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

• We have to carry out our duty by giving these things to God faithfully.

• As citizens of kingdom of God, we are supposed to give whatever belongs to God back to God.

• We are supposed to carry out all duties to our Lord God.

3-4. What was their response to what Jesus said? (26)

They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

• They couldn’t say anything against the truthful words spoken by Jesus.

• Their evil intentions were crushed by the truthful word of God.

• All evil intention that is against God will be exposed and destroyed by the truthful word of God and all will become silent.

3-5. How should we manage what is Caesar’s and what is God’s?

• We should be responsible for both our duties as citizens of this world and also the kingdom of God.

• By being faithful to our duties, we can glorify God and please him.

Conclusion

We have double citizenships as the citizens of this world and the kingdom of God. Likewise, we have duties to fulfill based on our dual citizenship. We have to carry out the duties of the both citizenships faithfully. Neglecting any of them is not right with God. This passage also reminds us of Apostle Paul’s example in Philippians 3:17-20. “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

One word: God’s and Caesar’s

Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s

Luke 20:20-26

Key Verse 25

"He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”"

About 30 years ago, I borrowed $60.00 from someone. But I always wondered if it is the correct amount or not. Not only was I wondering how much I owe but also I am still wondering if I paid it back or not. Who do you think I should contact to get the correct information about how much I borrowed and whether I paid back or not? The person who gave me the money. He knows exactly how much I owe him. He will know whether I paid it back or not. I still don’t know whether I paid back $60.00 or not. It sounds silly. But the truth is “if I owe $60.00 I owe $60.00”.

Why a person who borrows money may not know exactly how much he owes but the person who gave the money remembers so clearly? It is our nature that we remember what we give pretty much. But we don’t remember what we receive properly. We remember how much we give to others. But we don’t remember how much we receive.

Today’s message is the continuation of the conflict between Jesus and religious leaders during the last few days of Jesus life here on earth. The religious leaders again got mad from last Sunday message which is a parable of tenants. Tenants wanted to possess the vineyard although they were only tenants. Then they ended up killing the owner’s son. The tenants wanted to receive more than to give. They even wanted to become owners. So they rejected the owner’s son. But Jesus became the cornerstone by God.

Today’s passage shows how Jesus can become a cornerstone when religious leaders reject him. They rejected him by throwing a hard question but God made him a cornerstone through his wisdom. Let us see how Jesus revealed the truth of God and overcame their rejection.

Part I. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (v.20-22) Part II. Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.

Part I. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (v.20-22)

Look at verses 20-22.

²⁰ Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Religious leaders wanted to catch Jesus in order to kill him. So they were looking for a chance. They sent spies and they pretended to be sincere before Jesus in order to disguise their true picture. Their another tactic is to catch the words of Jesus in his own mouth because it would be a powerful testimony before the power and authority of the governor. So they had already in mind that they wanted to turn Jesus over to the governor to kill him.

So the spies who pretend to be sincere and who wanted to catch something in what Jesus said, came to him and asked a question. “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Why did they say? “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”? It is because they wanted to use what he said as a testimony against him. They wanted to make sure that Jesus would say in a court “Oh, what I just said was figurative speech. I did not mean it.” In our terms they were saying, “can you tell me after you swear “I will tell nothing but the truth”? Can you tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

After laying down a environment where Jesus could not take his word back, they asked the question, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

I am sure ‘paying taxes’ to Roman government was a huge issue to the Jewish people. Even in our days, about tax, we joke around saying, “There is taxes even in hell.”

Paying taxes to Roman government was issue because Rome was a pagan government. They were unbelievers. To the eyes of the Jews, the Romans were unclean people. Furthermore the Jews must have felt that the Romans took advantage of them as they were under Roman rule. So the Jewish people could have felt that paying taxes to Caesar could strengthen their enemy Romans, and then the Romans could have taken advantage of the Jews all the more with the taxes they paid. So they were not willing to pay taxes.

If Jesus said, “pay taxes to Caesar” they could label him as national traitor of Jewish nation. If he said, “no” they could accuse him to be trailer to Roman government. Either way Jesus could appear to be traitor either to Jewish nation or Roman government. It was a trap.

Part II. Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.

Look at verses 23-26.

^“23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

²⁵ He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” ²⁶ They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.”

First thing Jesus realized was their duplicity. Jesus taught his disciples to be pure like doves but shrewd like snakes. He knew what was going on in their hearts. He knew they were spies. He could see their double mind.

Then he said in verses 24-25. ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. ²⁵ He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

What does Jesus want to teach through his words, ““Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”?

Jesus revealed the truth that they owed something not only to Caesar but also to God. Jesus’ answer shocked them because of the plain truth in them. They used ‘denarius’. It means they took advantage of all the financial systems, and securities Roman government provided. But they did not want to pay taxes.

Jesus answer for their question reveals a deep seated issue of mankind. It is the desire to receive instead of giving. They raised the question about taxes but even in their question about taxes, their deep seated problem was exposed. They did not want to give but to receive.

They could not recognize the benefit they received from Caesar. But they were keenly aware of how much they paid taxes. They did not want to pay taxes. They might justify themselves not to pay taxes since Roman Empire was unbelieving pagan people and Roman Empire took advantage of them.

But Jesus revealed the truth that we need to not only pay taxes to Caesar but also paying whatever we owe to God. What does God provide and what we do enjoy from God? For one thing, God provides peace and security and order in our lives.

“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” can be applied to all our aspects of our life. In our relationship with God and ourselves, do we remember how much we receive? Or do we remember how much we give? We remember how much we give to God and boast about it all the time in our hearts. But do we remember how much we receive from God. Probably not. Or at least as much as we should.

Our prayer shows how much we focus on what we receive rather than what we give. Is there anyone whose prayer time of thanksgiving is greater than the time of asking? Our prayer shows that we focus on asking. We focus on receiving rather than giving.

What about our relationship with our neighbors? Do we remember how much we give? Or do we remember how much we receive? We remember clearly how much we give, but we don’t remember now much we receive. Then we complain. But Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Romans 13:1-7 teaches us why the Jewish people needed pay taxes.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

God’s command is to give to everyone what we owe including taxes, revenue, respect, and honor.

God made it very clear that we should give back to everyone whom we owe. But usually we may not think about ‘respect’ and ‘honor’ because they are invisible quality.

But God’s command is clear that we need to give to everyone what we owe including invisible respect and honor.

Jesus’ words ““Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” reminds the Jewish religious leaders of the truth that they owed something to God. What did they owe to God?

Fundamentally, their own lives, their own talents, and their own money, and their everything, and indeed there is God’s portion and they needed to give back to what is God’s.

That is why the Lord used the word ‘robbing’ when he talked about offerings in Malachi.

Malachi 3:8 reads,

⁸ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.” 

Among all other things that we received from God, arguably the most precious thing that we received from God is ‘his unfailing love.’ His unfailing love is well described in Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What does it mean ‘while we were still sinners’? It means while we were still ungrateful and while we were still rebellious and against him, and while we were still mocking him and insulting him, and despising him. He did not die when we acknowledge him. His love was demonstrated because he loved us when we were most unlovable.

We received God’s unfailing love. We received the love of God expressed in the cross of Jesus. And we need to give back to what is God’s. How can we give back to his unfailing love? By loving God and loving our neighbors.

Jesus clearly said, “Whatever you did to one of these little ones of mine you did it for me.”

What did the religious leaders miss? They had tons of biblical knowledge because they are the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. What do they miss? Love of God.

This is what Jesus said to Jewish religious leaders in John 5:39-42.

³⁹ You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life. ⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings, ⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

The Jewish religious leaders had knowledge but they did not have the love of God in their hearts. Then their knowledge was only used to kill Jesus. They claimed ‘we know God better than you.’ “You deserve to die.” They had knowledge but they did not have love. That was their tragedy.

God’s unfailing love is the foundation of how we can trust God always. “To rust God always” means “to trust God in good times and bad times.”

In life, we can be very fearful. One of my brothers told me, “If I don’t have anything to worry, I make one and worry.” Like him we can worry and we can become very fearful.

But all fear is spiritual in nature because it boils down to one question. “Can God be trusted for our future”? Again I say, “Can God be trusted for our future?” What is your answer? ‘Yes.’

One day one person had to face his huge trouble in his life. So he became very fearful and worried so much. He wanted to escape the situation as much as possible. When he was in deep trouble, the Lord spoke to him, “I am your shepherd. Be still and know that I am your God.” That person experienced God’s unfailing love at the time of trouble. The love of God calmed the soul of the person.

His story clearly shows that we can rely on the love of God at the time of trouble because his love is unfailing love.

Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, to God what is God’s”. What is God’s? His unfailing love. Our human love fails. See so many people promise of unfailing love in their wedding and divorce. But God’s love never fails because his love for us is unfailing love.

Therefore I believe we should give back to what is God’s, his unfailing love. How can we do so? By loving him and loving our neighbors with his love we receive. To give back to God what is God’s is not burdensome because his love enables us to love him and love our brothers and sisters.

The Lord knows what we want is ‘unfailing love’. So he gave it to us.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Now 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

This is how we can give back to God what is God’s.

Finally Look at verse 26.

²⁶ They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

They rejected Jesus. But God made Jesus the cornerstone through his wisdom.

In conclusion, we know how much we give to God and others. But we don’t know how much we receive from God and others. Especially we don’t know how much unfailing love of God we receive. Now we know it. So it is for our great joy and pleasure that we give back to God what is God’s: his unfailing love.

One word: Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s