Matthew 22:15-22
Reflect
When I read this passage there is a part of this that tickles my funny bone. I imagine the Pharisees setting up meetings, weighing the different options, strategizing, word smithing and appointing the best spokesperson to pose their well-thought-out trap. And then there were the responses that were planned out. “If He says yes, we’ll trap Him here”. “If He says no, we’ll trap Him there”. The time they put into this plan must have been extensive. When they determined it was the right time they set the trap. The well-thought-out question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”. I can imagine they can hardly contain themselves waiting to spring the trap. They know they’ve got Him.
Without missing a beat, Jesus says (in essence), “Guys, why are you doing this? Show me a coin…”
Jesus’ immediate response totally derails the perfect trap. He identifies that the coin bears the image of Caesar, thus it belongs to Caesar. Genesis reminds us of the fact that we bear the image of God, a fact well known and attested to by the religious leaders. For that reason, Jesus responds with, give Caesar what’s due him, but remember we ultimately belong to God.
May we understand the tension of living in the world but belonging to God, walking in wisdom and discernment, fulfilling our obligations in the world but living out our true allegiance to God.
Pastor Mike
Pray
- Pray for our Senior Lead Team Pastor, Lyle Buyer, his ministry, and family.
- Pray for our Church Board members: Beth Cheung, Gerhard Hiob, Hal Reirson, JD Kliewer, Mary Jetha, Mike Ross, Randy Voss, Seth Jansen, Trevor Toews, Uwem Okome.
- Pray for our Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Facilities Manager, Joe Richards.