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

 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore, what do You think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?  Show me the tax money."  So they brought Him a denarius.  And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"  They said to Him, "Caesars."  And He said to them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

- Matthew 22:15-22

Yesterday we read that Jesus answered the chief priests and elders and and spoke to them again by parables and said:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.  Again, he sent out other servants, saying, "Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready.  Come to the wedding."'  But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.  And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.  But when the king heard about it, he was furious.  And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.  Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'  So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good.  And the wedding hall was filled with guests.  But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?'  And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'  For many are called, but few are chosen."

 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore, what do You think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?  Show me the tax money."  So they brought Him a denarius.  And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"  They said to Him, "Caesars."  And He said to them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.  Let us note first of all that the Herodians are the followers of Herod, who rules in the name of Rome.  My study bible tells us that this question about paying taxes to the Romans is intended as a trap.  If Jesus answers "yes" it will turn the people against Him.  A "no" will bring a charges of treason from the Romans.   His answer, it says, does not indicate that our lives are divided into two, one secular and one sacred.  Rather, everything is in God's hands, but a believer can render the state its due while serving God (Romans 13:1-7; contrast Acts 4:19, 5:29).  As the coin bears the image of the emperor and is properly paid to him, my study bible says, so each person bears the image of God and therefore belongs to God.  Conflict arises only when the state demands that which is contrary to God.  Paying taxes and other types of civil duties are not detrimental to holiness.  (See also this reading in which Jesus paid the temple tax.)

As people who live in the world and are citizens of various countries, we will all have civic duties which belong to us.   The extent to which we participate in civic affairs will differ.  But Jesus seems to teach us clearly that it is possible to dwell in this world without being "of it."  What does that mean, exactly?  It means always one thing, that our first love in our hearts is God, that which He names as the first and greatest commandment in the Law.  It also means that we add to that commandment that one that He names as second, to love neighbor as oneself.  But each of us may have differing ideas as to how to live out those commandments.  Clearly, in the context of the Gospel, the various authorities who quiz Jesus have their own personal interest for doing what they do.  Their questions are not honest questions, but designed to entrap Jesus.   Their objectives are for control and power.  If our first duty is to love God, we may consider clearly which duties interfere with that love in our hearts or not.  While Jesus stands up to these authorities who pose the question, and calls them hypocrites after their praise of Him (or quite possibly because of it), He does not object to the payment of taxes.   He does not incite a revolt against the state although it is the Romans who will crucify Him.  Neither does He incite a political revolution against the leaders of the temple, although quite clearly He feels they mislead the people and are murderers.  He doesn't raise an army.  Rather, for Christ everything begins with faith.  It is meaningful that at the time of Christ's crucifixion, the people are offered a choice between Jesus and Barabbas the robber/revolutionary (27:15-23).  What remains with Christ is that place in the heart in which our love is protected and declared, which is reserved for loyalty to God and love of neighbor.  The Gospels give us a great difference between the enthusiasms of the crowds and true faith.  True faith is found within us; without this love in our hearts, the exterior motions we make mean little.  Christ Himself reserves His worst criticism for those whom He calls hypocrites.  There is a time when our prayers will lead us to speak for our faith and a time when they will not.  To participate in society as it is organized is not in conflict with holiness unless it demands that we surrender that holiness.  Even then, it is up to us to decide where our hearts belong and how we must live our faith.  The key here is simply this:  holiness.  Can we live a holy life even in a world that devalues it and does not understand it?  Each of the saints has found a way to do that; some leading to martyrdom and persecution.  Indeed, Christ Himself will teach that we will find persecution as well as reward for our faith.  But it is our souls we keep first, we needn't seek out the persecution for persecution's sake.  Let us also consider that holiness will work its own way in life, affecting those around us in one way and another, even whether others are aware of it or not.  Start first with a prayer, and see where it leads you.  To participate in life in the world, to be "good citizens," does not take away what is proper.  There are times, however, when the world would seek to interfere with that prayer.