Whose image?
Devotional, week 6
“So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”. “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:21-25, NIV)
A small group of people had gathered in front of Jesus. He held up a denarius. “Whose image is this?” He asked them. He knew that the Pharisees had come to trap him. Their plan was brilliant - at least they thought so. They would simply ask, “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” and Jesus would be in trouble no matter what he answered. Paying tax to Caesar could be seen as tantamount to supporting the occupying Roman empire – the empire that had conquered God’s promised land and had been oppressing God’s chosen people. If Jesus said yes to paying taxes, he could lose some of his popularity with his people. However, saying no to paying taxes could be seen as a rebellion against the Romans. That could also put Jesus in trouble. The Pharisees may have smiled when Jesus called them hypocrites. Such statements indicate that a person is under pressure. But why did Jesus hold up a coin in front of them? And why did He ask who the person on the coin was? Everyone knew about the emperor. “It is Caesar,” they replied. “So, give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” Jesus said.
Not everyone enjoys paying taxes. Questions about taxes can still reveal important truths – especially when Jesus is the one asking. Jesus states that something that bears someone’s image, belongs to that person. Because the money had Caesar’s imprint, it was his. In the same way, everyone that bears the image of God belongs to him.
Who would that be? Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them.” Remember this the next time you pay for something. The money you use to pay carries the image of a worldly power. The person you do the transaction with, bears the image of God. And so do you!
Let us pray! Father, help me to give all of myself as a tribute to You, who sacrificed Your precious Son for my salvation.
