Fulfilling Financial Obligations (Luke 20:20-26)
Luke 20:20-26 (Amplified Bible)
20 So they watched [for an opportunity to ensnare] Him, and sent spies who pretended to be upright (honest and sincere), that they might lay hold of something He might say, so as to turn Him over to the control and authority of the governor.
21 They asked Him, Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You show no partiality to anyone but teach the way of God honestly and in truth.
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?
23 But He recognized and understood their cunning and unscrupulousness and said to them,
24 Show Me a denarius (a coin)! Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered, Caesar’s.
25 He said to them, Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
26 So they could not in the presence of the people take hold of anything He said to turn it against Him; but marveling at His reply, they were silent.
In the days that Jesus walked this earth, paying taxes to the Romans was especially grievous and difficult. The Romans were a foreign and occupying force and the tax burden was heavy. The image of the emperor and the inscription on the coins symbolized the oppressive power of the Romans. However, as governing authority in the region, Rome exercised dominion dominion under God.God holds every emperor, king, president, governor and their subordinates responsible for the way in which they exercise their authority. He also holds all subjects responsible for the way that they submit to that authority.
For this reason, it is not only lawful, it is an obligation for each citizen to support the legitimate functions of the government as an ordained institution that is ordained by God. All duties to the government are limited and superseded by the absolute allegiance owed to God alone.
Every ruler and every person ruled must remember that all things are ultimately His and He will call everyone to account for the way that they have handled His property. This is the absolute natire of stewardship.
He said to them, Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
We must remember that if we are faithful in the small things, He will make us stewards of greater things.
