How many images of people have you seen in the past 24 hours? Photos of family and friends, pictures in magazines and newspapers, moving images on the TV… We are so surrounded by representations of people’s faces, we no longer pay much attention. In Jesus’ time, none of those things existed. The only place most people would ever have seen the image of another person was on coins.

Imprinting Caesar’s face on those pieces of metal was a way of marking his ownership. Similarly, God has imprinted his own image on each of us, showing to all of creation that we are his.

Paying taxes to a ruler is an expression of allegiance to him. It acknowledges his rule and reign, and gives him some recompense for the infrastructure and protection he provides. We humans bear the image of our Ruler (Genesis 1:26), so how should we express our allegiance to him? How can we use our lives to acknowledge his sovereignty and give him some small recompense for his infinite provision and protection?

‘Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.’¹

The religious leaders did not show any sign of slowing down their attacks on Jesus. They decided to use another method to trap him. They asked Jesus whether one should pay taxes to Caesar. If he were to reply in the negative, this was tantamount to sedition and the Roman authorities could arrest him. If he said yes, the religious leaders would then discredit him, as many viewed this tax as oppressive and were not in favour of paying anything to Caesar. Jesus avoided the dilemma by asking about the image found on the coin. When the religious leaders replied that it had the image of Caesar, Jesus said, ‘Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’ (v 25). 

Jesus’ reply is not meant to be the final say about the relationship between the state and the church. It is to remind us that what is legally due to the state in various forms of taxes cannot be avoided by any responsible citizens. However, we must always bear in mind that Caesar’s rights are limited. He has no rights in God’s domain. When his boundaries encroach into our obedience and devotion to God, we must take a stand. The believers in the early church responded with a firm statement, ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’² 

This is a reminder for those of us who live as a minority in some parts of the world. There may be restrictions imposed on the practice and propagation of the Christian faith. Wisdom is needed so that we can live as faithful Christians. We must always remember that our life belongs ultimately to God, and we should never bow our knee to any Caesars in our life. We give our life, faith, worship and obedience to God himself only.

‘Fear the Lord your God, serve him only.’³

¹ Ps 100:3  ² Acts 5:29  ³ Deut 6:13