15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:15-21)
Thoughts: Certainly there is a time to speak and a time to remain silent. Certainly Moses was called by God to speak up (but not rebel with arms) against Pharaoh. Yet Jesus did not advocate open rebellion. He even advocated paying taxes to an evil regime by saying give to Caesar what is Caesar's. In the Barmen Declaration the state was not to tell the church how to run, nor the church to tell the state. Yet the church has a right to be a voice of conscience to the state. If the state refuses to listen it is to its own demise. In America both the religious right and the religious left have put their emphasis and hope on politics rather than hoping in God to change the world.
Prayer: Lord, may my words be true to your Word not adding or taking away. May I have wisdom to give to Caesar what is his and to you what is yours.
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