Whose Image and Inscription Does it Have?

Three of the four gospels record the story of the scribes and chief priests questioning Jesus about paying taxes. Actually, like some of the other questions people asked Jesus, this was an attempt to trap Him in something He might say. The leaders didn't pose these moral, ethical, or legal dilemmas in person, but typically sent spies--ordinary people Jesus hopefully wouldn't recognize and who pretended to be sincere. All I can think is that none of the people who participated in these schemes had spent enough time with or around Jesus to learn much about Him. If they had, they would have known He could read their thoughts and was impossible to trick.

Let's take a moment to appreciate the security and peace of mind in knowing we serve a God like that. He cannot be deceived. He cannot make a mistake. Following Him will never, ever lead us wrong. 

The spokesman for this particular group, as recorded in Luke 20, begins with flattery that serves two purposes. "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and that You show no partiality to anyone, but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] for us to pay taxes (tribute money) to Caesar or not" (Luke 20:21-22, AMP 2015)? Besides trying to butter Jesus up, these words stress His upholding of truth and of Jewish law. They then follow with a yes/no question regarding Roman law, setting Him up in a lose/lose situation. Because of the tension between the requirements of Jewish and Roman rule, He could be brought up on charges either way. 

Jesus says, "Show Me a Roman denarius. Whose image and inscription does the coin have?" They are all too willing to reply, "Caesar's." Can you imagine them hanging on what He'll say next? Salivating for Him to fall into their trap? What He says is this: "Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Luke 20:24-25). 

I like to just sit and ponder the brilliance of that answer and how it rings down the ages to apply to us today. But, specifically, let's think right now about the significance of the image. The coin was Caesar's; it bore his face and had been issued by the Roman government in his name. So, yes, give it back to him (pay your taxes). It follows logically, then, that we give to God the thing that bears His image. 

What's that?

It's us. Human beings. Us and only us.  

It's easy for religious folk to think they owe God sacrifices, prayer, time in church, church work, ceremonial practices, and so forth. Many of the Jewish leaders were content with outward religious acts, and a lot of people today are, too. But if we examine the logical implications of what Jesus said, we arrive at the crucial takeaway that has nothing to do with taxes at all: We bear the image of God. Therefore we give to God what is God's--our whole and very selves.