New International Version (NIV) Matthew 22:15-22 Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
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.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Saturday, September 26 - Matthew 22:15-22 Whose image is on the coins and paper money that we use in the United States? Images of U.S. Presidents or founding fathers (Franklin and Hamilton) and certain United State’s buildings and monuments. Why? To show who manufactures, prints and ultimately “owns” the money. Whose image is on you? Gods! In Genesis 1:26-27 God made man and woman in His image. Every single human being has been made in the image of God. So, as Jesus said, give to the government what belongs to the government. But give to God what belongs to God. What Jesus desires is that we would give God our hearts. God desires a relationship with us, the men and women He created in His own image because God loves those He made.