Paying Taxes

Who likes tax day?  Silly question I know.  I don't think anybody does unless April 15th happens to be your birthday.  I shiver when I see it on my calendar.  Nevertheless, I better get ready because it's here again!

In Luke 20, the religious leaders questioned Jesus about paying taxes (of all things).  In verses 21-22, it says, "'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?'"  Because they knew Jesus' allegiance was to God first and foremost, and that Caesar represented the hated Roman government, they were trying to put Him between a rock and a hard place with either the Jewish people or the Roman authorities.  Either way, they wanted to get Him in trouble.  The passage goes on to say, "He (Jesus) 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.'”   

Although paying taxes was as unpopular then as it is now, Jesus made clear that it was their civic duty to pay them.  I'm sure it made them shiver when "tax day" came up on their calendars as well.  However, in His response to the religious leaders, Jesus brilliantly outlines an even higher calling; that which is owed to the Lord.  To be clear, there's a significant difference between our duty to the government and our duty to God.  Both of which we must discern with godly wisdom.  That which is owed to the government is earthly, temporal, and functional.  But as believers, that which is owed to God is eternal and involves our complete allegiance, worship, and ultimately our lives.  And we are never to confuse the two!  While coinage bears our government's image, we bear our Creator's image.  We are His!  Paying taxes is our duty as citizens of this state and country.  But as Christians, we are ultimately citizens of heaven.  Our allegiance is to God!  

With tax day here, Jesus' words are a good reminder to render to Caesar (i.e., the government) what is Caesar's but to render to God what is God's.

Pastor Darren