Devotion:
Read Matthew 22:15-22.
Many of you remember the Looney Tunes characters Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote Wile E. Coyote was always trying to trick and capture Road Runner. However, as you know he always failed. Well, the Jewish establishment was constantly trying to trick and trap Jesus. However, they failed time and time again. Spoiler alert: they will fail in today’s passage as well.
They’re trying to set-up a situation where Jesus offends someone and entraps himself no matter which side he takes. If Jesus said people should pay tax, they could accuse Jesus for giving offerings to Caesar not to God. If Jesus said not to pay taxes, they would say he was guilty of not obeying the Roman Laws. But Jesus was wise in saying, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Jesus was showing we have dual citizenship. Our citizenship in a country means we are to pay for services and benefits we receive. Our citizenship in God’s Kingdom means we pledge our ultimate obedience and commitment to him. God has designed us to be loyal in multiple human relationships and institutions. However, none of these are to take the place of our loyalty to God. Notice the Pharisees were speechless and went away. Jesus was always wise in his relationships with others, even when they disagreed. He models how to respond when we get tripped up sometimes by religious debates.
Personal Worship Option:
“Lord, help me to give back to you my time, energy, resources, talents, thoughts, and all things that you have blessed me with in my body, soul, and spirit. Amen.”
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