God's Image

17 "Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" 21 They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:17-21)

The religious and political leaders of Jesus' day sent representatives to question Jesus in an attempt to trap him with his own words - asking Jesus to weigh in on the divisive issue of paying taxes. They thought Jesus would either show himself to be a rebel against the government (worthy of arrest) or on the side of Rome (angering the people). They failed, however, to realize that there were more than two perspectives, and that rather than "mine" and "yours" Jesus saw all that we have as gifts to be used for the betterment of all.

Refusing to be boxed in by the loaded question, Jesus expanded it - the coin bears the image of its owner, so give back what is due, but also give God what is due to God. They (and we) could reason that everything is God's. What, then, does God command we give? As God's image bearers, we are to give what we've been given - justice with mercy - from the humble heart of the forgiven.

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)