“Whose Image Do You Bear?” The Gospel Message for Sunday, October 22, 2023—Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

 

Today's Gospel message comes from Matthew 22:15-22, where Jesus encounters a challenging question from the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar. His response, both simple and profound, challenges us to consider where our true loyalties lie.

Let us revisit the text:

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to reveal your will for our lives and redeem us from sin and death. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, inspire us with confidence that you are with us amid the storms of life, bring peace to our troubled souls, and lead your church throughout the ages. Enable us to live as your redeemed saints, that our lives may witness to our faith. This we ask in Christ’s holy name. Amen.

“Whose Image Do You Bear?”
by Kenny Sallee, ThM

The passage today recounts an important incident in the life of Jesus. In this section, the Pharisees, religious leaders of the time, try to trap Jesus by asking him a seemingly straightforward but politically charged question: "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" Jesus, understanding the motive behind the question, asks for a coin and inquires about the image on it. When they say it's Caesar's, Jesus replies, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

This moment holds deep wisdom that can be applied to our lives today.

The Trap of Worldly Concerns
The Pharisees and Herodians sought to entrap Jesus with a question that was both political and religious. The tax in question was levied by the Roman authorities, and paying it was seen by many as an endorsement of Roman rule and idolatry. To answer simply would be to alienate one group or the other.

The Wisdom of Jesus
But Jesus sidesteps the trap by asking for a coin. "Whose image is this?" He asks. The answer, of course, is Caesar’s. "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's," He replies. In doing so, Jesus turns a divisive question into an occasion for teaching about the right ordering of our loyalties.

Dual Citizenship: Earth and Heaven
Jesus reminds us that we live in two worlds: the temporal and the eternal. While we must fulfill our obligations to the state, these should never come at the expense of our ultimate duty to God. The coin bears the image of Caesar, but remember, we bear the image of God.

Give to God What is God's
Let’s pause to reflect on this: What belongs to God? Everything. Our time, our talents, our treasure, and most of all, our very selves. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and just as the coin returns to Caesar, so must we return to God with all our hearts, lives, and resources.

Practical Implications
How do we live this out practically? It starts by asking ourselves what takes precedence in our lives. Is it work, social obligations, or the relentless pursuit of worldly success? Or do we make room for prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity?

Conclusion: The Call to Balanced Living
Jesus teaches us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. His words in Matthew 22:15-22 are not just a clever escape from a tricky question; they are a blueprint for balanced Christian living. They call us to engage wisely with the world around us, giving to Caesar what belongs to him but ensuring that our ultimate allegiance is to God, giving Him all that we are and all that we have.

May we be faithful in our dual citizenship, giving to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, as we navigate the complexities of our lives, rooted in the wisdom and love of Christ.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your wisdom, so profoundly revealed through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We marvel at His teachings, and today, we've been especially touched by His words in Matthew 22:15-22.

Lord, we acknowledge that we often find ourselves entangled in the worries and debates of this world. We're sometimes divided between the demands of earthly citizenship and our heavenly calling. We confess that we often give to "Caesar" more than what belongs to him and less to You, whose image we bear.

Grant us the wisdom, Lord, to navigate the complexities of this world with integrity and courage. Help us to fulfill our earthly responsibilities without compromising our loyalty to You. May we be good citizens in our communities, but above all, let us be exemplary citizens of Your heavenly kingdom.

God, remind us daily that everything we have is Yours. Stir our hearts to give You our best — our time, our talents, our resources, and our complete surrender. Let our lives be a constant offering to You, reflecting Your love and justice in every action and decision.

As we leave this gathering, may we take the teachings of Jesus to heart, serving as lights in this world while never losing sight of our eternal home with You.

We ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Sermon by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
Today's Gospel message comes from Matthew 22:15-22, where Jesus encounters a challenging question from the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar. His response, both simple and profound, challenges us to consider where our true loyalties lie.