Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Christian Participation in Nation building

Bible Reading: Luke 20:19-26

Key verse:25“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

DEVOTION

Luke is unique among scripture writers as the only non-Jewish (gentile) contributor to the Bible, according to the leading Bible scholar and teacher, John MacArthur (1939-2025), and others. Luke is distinct in providing a two-volume sweeping history of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (Gospel of Luke) and the Early Church (Book of Acts). Luke was also a close associate of Apostle Paul as: beloved physician (Colossians 4:14), traveling companion (Acts 16:10-17, 20:5-21:18, 27:1-28:16), fellow worker (Philemon 1:24), and loyal friend during final imprisonment in Rome before martyrdom (2 Timothy 4:11).
The devotional text (Luke 20:19-26) and the parallel passages (Matthew 22:15-16, Mark 12:13-17) on paying taxes to Caesar are believed to be from the Tuesday of the Passion Week—final week of Jesus’s earthly ministry—when Jesus taught the crowds gathered for the Passover and the Unleavened Bread festival in Jerusalem. The devotional text follows the two sections in Luke 20 on the religious leaders questioning Jesus’s authority (v.1-8) and the parable of the wicked tenants (v.9-18), with the chief priests and scribes angry with Jesus for critiquing them through the parable, and therefore seeking to lay hands on Him, but fearing the people (v.19). Instead, they came up with the ruse of deploying righteous-feigning spies for trapping Jesus in His words, in order to deliver Him as an enemy of Rome to the Governor, Pilate (v.20).
The spies questioned Jesus, “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (v.22). Jesus recognized their wickedness and hypocrisy, responding, “Why do you test Me?” (v.23). Jesus asked for a denarius, a Roman silver coin used for paying taxes, and queried, “Whose image and inscription does it have?” (v.24). When they answered, “Caesar’s”, Jesus responded, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (v.25). The religious leaders were unable to trap Jesus and therefore kept silent, marveling at Him.
The Greek word for “render” means “to pay or give back”, implying a debt. All who lived under the authority of Caesar were obliged to pay the tax owed him. The Bible teaches that all citizens are under divine obligation to pay taxes to the governments over them, as permitted by God (Romans 13:1–7, 1 Peter 2:13-17), if they do not contradict God's laws (Acts 5:29). However, the Christian’s ultimate allegiance is to the LORD (YHWH), a God like no other (Isaiah 42:8; 45:5, 18), and the source of all authority, as Jesus reminded Pilate during His trial (John 19:11). Christians are commanded to do everything heartily to the LORD as the Master (Colossians 3:23-24). This is also at the heart of the call for Christian participation in nation building.
The religious leaders were unwilling to accept Jesus as the Christ (Messiah), plotting against Him incessantly, choosing to marvel than repent, crucifying Him in the end. Are we rebelling against God and His ways in our lives, preferring autonomy over His Lordship, unwilling to repent?   
Jesus taught that believers must respect and obey governments, albeit under the ultimate authority of God. Are we modelling God-honoring behaviors in our engagement with governments? Are we the salt of the earth? Are we the light of the world?

PRAYER

 Help us O LORD to honor you with our lives. To respect and obey governments. To be blemish less and praiseworthy.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Christians are not left in the world by accident but are placed there on divine assignment from their Lord.” John MacArthur


Dr. Cherian Samuel
Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Virginia

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