The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong. They sent some of their followers and some of Herod’s followers to say to him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said, “Why are you trying to test me? You show-offs! Let me see one of the coins used for paying taxes.” They brought him a silver coin, and he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?”
“The Emperor’s,” they answered.
Then Jesus told them, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.”
Matthew 22:15-21
Jesus was not a politician, but like political leaders even today, there were attempts to get Jesus to say some something wrong in public! An upsetting "sound bite" is perhaps the best way to put yourself at the head of the media wolf pack!
And the question they asked the Lord was about as political a question you could contrive. They asked Jesus if they should pay taxes to Caesar. His answer was simple and profound at the same time. He asked for a coin and pointed out that the picture on the coin was a picture of the Emperor. The Jesus said, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God."
Caesar's picture was on the coin, but God's image is on the heart of every man ever born! You are made in God's image and, consequently, you belong to God! When you give your heart to Jesus, you are giving the Lord a "Coin" with the image of Jesus deeply inscribed on it!
"Lord Jesus, every human being ever born into this world was Created in your image! So, I give You today the one thing that I have that is rightly Yours, my heart! Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever. Amen."
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