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| Give to Caesar... what is Caesars... and give to God what is His. |
"Your father was a hard
master," they said. "Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes
that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal
subjects." 1
Kings 12:4
Now days there are no questions about to whom you should pay your taxes. In Washington State we pay state taxes on property and on every purchase we make, except food. Federal Taxes are calculated, and payment is due April 15th of every year. There are so many laws about taxable income and expenses that it is almost essential to have someone’s assistance or a computer program that helps you through the maze of requirements. Businesses have different regulation to follow—that makes life for them even more complicated. Would life be simpler if we had coins like the one Jesus spoke of…"give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God." What does a coin look like that belongs to God? In Jesus time there were coins that were Temple coins—specifically used in the Temple for paying for sacrificial animals and Temple taxes. It was the very use of these coins and those who made a profit with them that made Jesus angry.
It was nearly time for the Jewish
Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw
merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers
at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and
chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered
the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then,
going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things
out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!" Then his
disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's
house will consume me." John
2:13-17
That last verse is from the Old Testament. Jesus was fulfilling Old Testament scripture and showing His respect for the scaredness of the Temple.
Passion for your house has consumed
me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. Psalm 69:9
Give
to God what belongs to God.
As I see it…everything belongs to God. We are just stewards of things…including
the “coins” or money that we have to use. From earliest of days the
Jews were commanded to tithe a tenth of their earnings.
You must set aside a tithe of your
crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Deuteronomy 14:22
When the people of Israel heard
these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of
their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields.
They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced. 2 Chronicles 31:5
Most of
our money says…In God We Trust. Let’s hope it stays that way. Do you put your
trust in God? Is He Lord of your life?
Later
the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into
saying something for which he could be arrested. "Teacher," they
said, "we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play
favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay
taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn't we?" Jesus saw
through their hypocrisy and said, "Why are you trying to trap me? Show me
a Roman coin, and I'll tell you." When they handed it to him, he asked, "Whose
picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar's," they replied.
"Well, then," Jesus said, "give to Caesar what belongs to
Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God." His reply completely amazed
them. Mark
12:13-17
Prayer
– Lord God, I hear Your words… “give to Caesar what belongs to
Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Please continue to bless us that
we would have a generous tithe to return to You and to pay our taxes as
required…since You said…ssss“give to Caesar what belongs to
Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Everything is Yours
God.
Meditate.
Consider what belongs to God.
Verses
of Salvation ~
This
is what the LORD says: "At just the right time, I will respond to you. On
the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the
people as my covenant with them. Through you I will reestablish the land of
Israel and assign it to its own people again. Isaiah 49:8
For
God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I
helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day
of salvation. 2
Corinthians 6:2
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
Recycled revision of June 12, 2018, Banquet With The King
blog.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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