Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's

And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people--for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth. "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

- Luke 20:19-26

In yesterday's reading, Jesus told the parable of the Wicked Vineyard Tenants -- of those left in charge of a vineyard while the owner is absent. The tenants, the vinedressers, refuse to give some of the fruit to a servant of the owner at the vintage time. They instead beat the servant, and then did the same for other servants that followed. The owner decided to send his beloved son, thinking the vinedressers would respect him. Instead, the vinedressers plotted to take the inheritance, and kill the son in order to do so. What then will the owner do, Jesus said, but give the vineyard to others? This parable was given to the religious leadership who are plotting to trap Jesus, and they reply, "Certainly not!" Jesus then tells them, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone'? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."

And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people--for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. This verse refers to the parable of yesterday's reading, noted above. The chief priests and scribes fear the people who eagerly wish to hear Jesus preach in the temple. We also know the leadership fear the people's faith that John the Baptist was a prophet, and for this reason could not openly criticize John's authority to baptise when challenged by Jesus. So, we get a sense of the ruling classes, especially the religious authority, afraid for their positions, and of the popularity of John and Jesus, who are not of the established religious leadership, with the people. So the leadership plot secretly to trap Jesus.

So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth. "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent. My study bible has a note that applies to the whole of this passage: "The question on Roman taxation is designed to trap Jesus between the Roman government and the Jewish people. A 'yes' would turn the people against Him. A 'no' would bring a charge of treason by the Roman governor. His answer defeats their cunning, and shows that no conflict need exist between civic and religious duties. Christians can render the state its due while serving God. As the coin bears the image of the emperor and is properly paid to him, so each person bears the image of God and belongs to Him. Conflict arises when the state demands of Christians what belongs only to God."

It is the image on the coin that is of great significance here. We know that Jesus has cleansed the temple, throwing out those who buy and sell animals, and (we know from other Gospels) that this included the money changers as well. It is for this action that Jesus is being challenged as to His authority in the first place, as this cleansing of the temple is a messianic act. The money changers exchanged foreign coins for temple currency; that is, currency acceptable in the temple for donation and the purchase of animals for sacrifice. At the time of the Passover, many Jews and proselytes came not only from all regions of Palestine but from all over the diaspora and would need the services of the money changers - quite a profitable activity for the temple. The Roman coin, of course, has the image of Caesar on it, who was worshiped as a god by decree of the state. So Jesus is slyly pointing also to their hypocrisy: they exchange coin for currency use in the temple by those who come for the Passover, while they freely make use of the Roman coin themselves. Yet, as my study bible points out, we are all created "in the image of God." Therefore, as human beings, we bear within ourselves the image of God. Those who would be the children of God then, who act "in His name," are those who keep in mind always the commandments -- the love of God with all one's heart and soul and mind and strength, and love of neighbor. So, where is Jesus leading them, but back to the affairs of the heart, where spiritual understanding and perception reside? He is also pointing them back to Himself, in His role as Messiah - what is it that belongs to God? The parable of the vinedressers in yesterday's reading is also reflected here: who owns the vineyard, and who would steal it and keep the fruits for themselves? Who destroys the prophets and kills the son for the sake of greed? Let us consider then, what it is to bear the image of God, and how that renders our loyalties of the heart to our Father -- and what that means for those who cannot accept the reality of that kingdom in the heart. If the whole world and all of us in it are created "in God's image," then it gives us a greater incentive for giving up the things that pain us, and the people who annoy or hurt us, to God. And we ask how to walk in the Way God offers through the world. It's good instruction, and a good lesson, on so many levels for all of us.