“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).
TEXT — Matthew 22:15-22
Message
Mei Ling (name changed) was a house church leader in a restrictive Asian country. The government mandated that all churches register under state control, which would mean compromising biblical teachings. Many pastors complied out of fear, but Mei Ling believed this would dishonour Christ’s lordship over the Church. She continued leading secret Bible studies, citing Acts 5:29: “…We ought to obey God rather than men.” When authorities raided her meetings, she refused to deny her faith, even under threat of imprisonment. Mei Ling still respected other laws (paying taxes, not inciting violence), but she drew the line where the government contradicted God’s Word. She prioritised worship, evangelism, and discipleship—rendering to God what belonged to Him. Her courage strengthened other believers to remain faithful in that community.
In our text, the Pharisees and Herodians intended to ensnare Jesus by His own words. They asked Him whether paying tax to Caesar was right or wrong. It was a question with profound religious and political implications. The question of the Pharisees was a trap, intended to put Jesus in a dilemma. If He said “yes”, it would pitch Him against the people who resented paying tax to their Roman oppressors. If, on the other hand, He answered in the negative, He would be accused of inciting insurrection against the Roman Government, even though that would please the Jews. Jesus perceived their evil intent and dealt with it appropriately. He asked for a tribute (tax) coin and enquired whose image was on it. It was Caesar’s! Caesar’s image on the coin (denarius) signified his ownership and authority. Therefore, Jesus told them that since the money was Caesar’s, it was their civic duty to give it back to him.
In the same breath, Jesus tries to emphasise the need to balance our civic duties with our irrevocable divine obligations that prioritise surrendering our lives to God, whose image we bear, by creation. Humans must submit to divine ownership and authority.
As Christians, it is our duty to obey the laws of our nations, as long as they do not contradict God’s word. Beyond that, our total allegiance and loyalty must be given to God in active and productive service. And as the Scriptures emphasise, “Ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.”
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
