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 was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem.  He has already made His Triumphal Entry and cleansed the temple.   The chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, have confronted Him and asked Him, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?"   After responding to them, Jesus then began to tell the people this parable:  "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.  Now at vintage time he sent a servant to the vinedressers; that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard.  But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.  And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.  Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do?  I will send my beloved son.  Probably they will respect him when they see him.'  But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'  So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.  Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?  He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others."  And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!"  Then He looked at them and said, "What 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.

 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.   As in yesterday's reading, the Gospel makes it clear to us that Jesus knows the real intent of the people around Him; this applies not only to the leadership but also to those in the crowd who aren't serious seekers but work to help trap Him and create an accusation.

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 tells us:  "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."

Again we notice in today's reading (as in yesterday's)  Jesus' cleverness in His response.   Not only does He respond in measure to His audience (comprised of both the people and the spies among them who seek to trap Him in an accusation to the Roman governor), but He answers in such a way that His critics -- and the spies -- can't use it for their purposes.  He answers in such a way that "they marveled at His answer and kept silent."  And here's something that I believe isn't often pointed out:  Jesus uses words not only to tell the truth as we understand it in a straightforward manner, but also to tell the truth in the ways in which He is willing to respond.  Sometimes He will respond in a very straightforward way, say, to questions from the disciples.  Other times His truth is slightly more veiled.  When He first introduces parables in His teaching (the parable of the Sower), He makes it clear to the disciples that "to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'"  In Saturday's reading, His deft response to the leadership indicates He will give no ground to those who are dishonest in their intention and dealing with Him.  In a verbal sense, He gives as good as He gets.  In other words, it is His word that teaches and informs according to the situation and appropriately to the situation and His understanding of His audience.  Jesus doesn't just speak to the truths of the world as we understand the ways in which lessons are taught.  That kind of pronouncement is the world of Caesar, perhaps.  Rather, He speaks to the hearts and minds of those who are before Him.  He does this in many ways which are subtle, and yet His meaning is always clear one way and another.  He doesn't want hearts that aren't willing to respond to His love.  His authority is upheld even before those who seek to trap Him.  He will suffer, but that suffering is willing.  It is understood long before He arrives in Jerusalem what is to happen to Him at the Passover.  But in His words and actions, He never falters with respect to the truth that cuts through every appearance, that is the sword that pierces hearts and exposes every thought there.  Today's clever response isn't just a teaching tool about the state and the world and our relationship with God.  It's also a potent declaration of authority, a willingness to stick to His truth and His real identity and authority no matter what the circumstances, and it is also more:  it is a clear declaration of His discernment of their hearts and thoughts and intentions, and His pronouncement of Judgment about them.  He gives as good as He gets, without hiding from any part of the truth about what is happening here.  Let us remember, repentance is always a possibility.  These people in this exchange may come to faith at any time, and His discernment and authority remain also in that possibility.  But let us also marvel at His words, let us also understand all that they teach and reveal, and the ways in which He knows the hearts of everyone -- so much so, that all they need to do is keep silence.  The real fullness of truth is God's and must be rendered to God; silence here is their only option.