Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Bearing the Image of God
Matthew 22:15-22
Vs. 21 They
answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor
the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The context of this passage is about the Pharisees plotting
to trap Jesus in His words. The question posed by the Pharisees was about
paying taxes to Caesar. If Jesus said that paying taxes to Caesar was lawful,
His influence among the people would be gone, as they would regard Him as a
coward for supporting Roman taxes which the Jews hated. If Jesus would say that
paying taxes was not lawful, they would have Jesus arrested by the Romans as a
revolutionary.
Jesus asked them for a
denarius as He did not possess it. Jesus asked them whose inscription is on it
and the Pharisees replied Caesar’s. The Pharisees were marveled by the response
of Jesus which is the theme verse.
Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s- The ancient view of coinage was a sign of power.
Whenever a King conquered a nation, he issued his coin. The coin is valid in
all places where the king holds power. The coin with the king’s inscription on
it was regarded as king’s personal property. Here Jesus asserts the rights of
the state. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is
no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God.” (Rom 13:1). Without Laws of the state, life
would be a chaos. State gives us the benefits of living a secure and civilized
life. One who accepts the benefits which the state gives, cannot opt out of
their responsibilities towards the state.
Render to God the things that are God’s- If the coin which
had Caesar’s inscription on it is Caesar’s property, then we humans who have
the image and spirit of God are God’s personal property. Our life is not to be
lived according to our own will but according to the will of our Creator who
owns us. Our bodies should be kept holy. “Do you not know that your bodies are
temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You
are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your
bodies.”(1 Corinth 6:19-20). There is a sphere of life that belongs to God and
not Caesar. Both state and human beings belongs to God and both exist because
of God’s Grace. If there is any conflict, loyalty to God should always be
first.
As Christians we are
citizens of two worlds. Our faithful citizenship to the kingdom of God makes
demands upon our citizenship in this world.
PRAYER
Gracious and loving
heavenly Father, we thank You for creating us in Your image and for giving Your
son to redeem our lives from destruction. Grant us a humble heart to live our
life in submission to Your will. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Remind the
people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to
do whatever is good." (Titus 3:1)
Pradeep
John,
Mar Thoma Church, Bangalore
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar
Thoma Church