We are under obligation to obey the laws of the land. That's just the reality of life. We need to pay our taxes, wear our seatbelts, be good citizens and not disrupt peace. There is the law of the land and the moral law of God. We are called to obey both!
Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. They came and said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay or not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at." They brought one. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's." And Jesus said to them, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him. - Mark 12:13-17
The coin used to pay taxes in these days had Caesars image on it. So, Jesus was saying that it rightfully belongs to Caesar so to give it to him. Pay what is due to him. It is wrong to steal. Not paying taxes is in fact, stealing.
But what does He mean when he says "and unto God what is God's"; what do we have that has Gods image on it?
...insert Jeopardy music here ...
Yes, you got it!
The answer is US!
We are made in the image of God.
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness". - Genesis 1:26
When Jesus says give unto God what is God's, I believe He is asking us to give our lives over to Him. He's asking us to submit ourselves, in every way. To deny ourselves and turn to Him.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up His cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" - Matthew 16:24-25
In Mark 12:29, Jesus says the greatest commandment is, "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is One Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND and with all your STRENGTH."
If you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - you have given yourself in COMPLETE submission to God. Praise the Lord!
Allow yourself to become vulnerable enough to recognize that without Jesus, we are nothing. We must repent and submit our lives to His ways. That's when you will begin to see radical
change in your life.
