The story of Al Capone is very interesting. He was a notorious gangster during the times Prohibition of Alcohol and the Great Depression in the 1920s. He was responsible for the St Valentines Day massacre when his men, dressed as police, shot and killed 7 men from a rival gang. A police force known as The Untouchables, led by Elliot Ness formed with one of its major targets – Al Capone. But they couldn’t make any of the murders stick. So they opted for a different method: They ignored his violent bootlegging and racketeering empire to focus strictly on 22 counts of federal tax evasion. In the end, they didn’t care about how they got him into jail as long as they got him in jail.
In our Gospel reading today we see a similar strategy. The Pharisees wanted Jesus arrested on blasphemy but he kept outsmarting them. They were afraid that if they arrested him that the Jewish people would cause an uprising because they were hoping Jesus was going lead a rebellion against the Roman rulers. They approach Jesus with a question intended to trap Him—a question about paying taxes to Caesar. They attempt to corner Him into a position that would either alienate the Jewish people or have him breaking the Roman laws. Remember when they asked Jesus about his authority and he turned the question on them by using John the Baptist. By whose authority did John Baptise – human or divine. And they were afraid to answer because each answer had a negative reaction. Here they believe they can get him with the same strategy..
The Question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?” If he answers – yes it is lawful – he’ll have the Jews against him. If he answers – no it’s not lawful – he’ll have the Roman authorities against him. We’ve got him But instead of taking the bait, Jesus responds with brilliance. Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose image is this on the coin, and whose title?” It’s not a trick question. The coins are the same as ours;
Ours have the image of either Queen Elizabeth or King Charles. They answered, “The emperor’ – Caesar. The Response by Jesus: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s – the things that bear his image. And render to God the things that are God’s – the things that bear God’s image.
In this moment, Jesus draws attention to the understanding of belonging using the image. The coin bears Caesar’s image, signifying that it belongs to him. But as followers of Christ, we must ponder whose image we bear. Genesis reminds us that we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). What does it mean to ‘render’ to God? Well, remember what Paul says Romans 12: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
When Jesus instructs us to give to God what belongs to Him, He invites us to consider our lives, our time, our talents, and our resources. Are we living in such a way that reflects God’s image? Are we using the gifts He has given us for His glory?
To render to God means to fully recognize His presence over our entire existence. Whatever we do we do as God’s image as Paul says in 2nd Corinthians: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. It calls us to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven while navigating our earthly responsibilities. As Paul says in Philippians 3: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
God doesn’t just want our Sundays. Jesus calls us to a different standard—a life marked by total surrender. As Christians, we face this tug-of-war daily. We are citizens of earth, but more importantly, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. This loyalty calls us to engage with the world around us while holding fast to our Christian values and beliefs.
And sometimes they are at odds as the first Apostles discovered when they were demanded by the authorities to stop preach Christ publicly. When the authorities found them the next day preaching Christ – Peter’s response was – we must obey God rather than man.
Our Lord models how to engage with secular authority. He shows us that we can honor obligations to a worldly Government while remaining faithful to divine principles. In fact Paul commands it in Romans 13: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
We are called by God to participate in society, to vote, contribute to our communities, pay taxes and not cheat on them.
But we must always do so through the eyes of our faith. Jesus is not concerned about taxes or politics—it’s about identity. Who are we representing in our daily lives? Are we reflecting the image of Christ? As we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, let us not forget to surrender our hearts, minds, and lives to God, for we are His image-bearers. In every decision, every action, let us strive to show the world the love of Christ, the grace of God, and the truth of His Word. Let God’s truth guide us as we navigate our responsibilities in the world—balancing our earthly duties with our higher calling to God. May we be faithful citizens and disciples, remembering always the profound privilege it is to bear God’s image and to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
