"Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 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.”

They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Luke 20: 20-26, NIV

Hello friends! A devotional for today's post:

My study Bible made a comment about the above scripture that I found interesting. It pointed out that the money bore the image and likeness of Caesar, so the people should look to give it back to him. The "things" that bear the image and likeness of God are human beings. We should be looking to give our whole selves back to God. 

I suppose I always puzzled over these verses. I looked for things - physical, earthly things like money and possessions - to give back to God. Things that could be put to use for His ultimate glory. I never considered that Jesus might mean that I needed to give myself back to God as the "thing" that bears His likeness. 

It changes things a bit, when you're called to give back your whole person, your innermost self, your physical body and spiritual being, to the Lord. You get used to the idea that stuff is stuff, and you could open your home or give away your possessions or even live on a pretty tight budget and give financially if it's what God calls you to do. You start to think that you're definitely on the right path, giving what's God's back to God, until you realize there's a lot more required of you. 

More in a deeper, more intimate sense. More in a sense that you can't escape and that you can't show off.

How much of yourself are you giving back to God?

All the love, 

Emily

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