Matthew 22:15-22–Whose Likeness Is On This Coin?

Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

This is one of the most famous passages in the Gospels.  And we remember it, we know what it says.  Most of us can understand that Jesus is answering the questions of people more interested in catching Jesus make a mistake than hearing what He actually has to say about it.  We can also understand that Jesus' response is both clever and convicting.  However, while the question that the Pharisees do ask is a valid question, even if it does betray the hearts of the askers, it is the question that they don't ask that is the most striking feature.

Jesus answers the Pharisees with a question, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"  To which they reply, "Caesar's."  Jesus then says: "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

Jesus assesses the coin by the inscription upon it; in fact, it is the image on the coin that defines the coin's ownership.  When Jesus replies to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, the pertinent responding questions should have been this:

What belongs to God?  Where is God's inscription?

Answering these questions are essential to the life of a believer/human being, therefore, I suggest spending some time considering these questions for yourselves.  I suggest checking out Genesis 1:27-29...