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Who is this an image of?
** Most people do not stop to think about exactly what, when and where we pay homage or allegiance to different ideas and things!**
Date: 9/18/2018 11:19:05 AM ( 6 y ) ... viewed 936 times Matthew 22:20-21 "And he said unto them, Who is this image and superscription?
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
MATTHEW 22:20-22
** Most people do not stop to think about exactly what, when and where we pay homage or allegiance to different things!
The image on the denarius, the only small silver coin acceptable for imperial tax payments, was probably that of Tiberius Caesar (reigned A.D. 14-37). The inscription upon the coin read "Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus" with the reverse side reading "Chief Priest."
This inscription was a claim to divinity and as emperor, plus the right to be worshiped.
The Jews had tried many times to accuse Jesus on the basis of religious issues and had always failed. Now they approached Him about paying taxes in hopes that His answer might give them the opportunity to deliver Him to Pilate for prosecution.
These Pharisees and Herodians reasoned that any answer that Jesus gave would be wrong. If He approved of the Roman taxes, then He would lose popularity with the masses. If He spoke against the Roman taxes, then the Jews would hand Him over to the Roman government and Pilate would dispose of Him.
** This is also known as a constructive dilemma! Meaning there is no good or positive answer**
It looked like they had Jesus trapped. Jesus, however, answered with such simple wisdom that these Pharisees and Herodians were caught in their own trap and made to look like fools.
Jesus declared, "Render (give back) to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mk. 12:17).
People are made in God's image, so we must render to God the things belonging to God (our lives) and to Caesar the things belonging to Caesar (his money and other benefits of his rule).
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