21 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.
22 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23 But He detected their trickery and said to them,
24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.” Luke 20:19-26.
Like the Scripture a few days ago on August 20, 2010, this Scripture carries more meaning than just the wisdom of Jesus in avoiding another hostile question. The chief priests and the scribes were not searching for the truth, but they were only trying to trap Jesus. They did not deserve an answer, and yet here, unlike in the previous encounter where Jesus does not answer their question, Jesus does here answer their question and does so with more than what they deserved and even wanted.
“Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In giving this answer, Jesus was teaching more than just it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus was teaching that people should render “to God the things that are God’s.”
What does that mean, to render to God the things that are God’s? What does “render” mean? According to my Oxford American Dictionary, published in 1980 by Oxford University Press, “render” is defined as “to give, especially in return or exchange or as something due”.
God owns everything. We owe God everything.
In this short devotion, we can only begin to consider a few verses:
Luke 10:27
“And he answered, ” YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
Micah 6:8
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
“you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
In this short devotion, we can only begin to consider a few questions and answers from the Reformed confessions:
Here is a few questions and answers from The Heidelberg Catechism:
Question 89. What is the mortification of the old man?
Answer. It is a sincere sorrow of heart, that we have provoked God by our sins; and more and more to hate and flee from them.
Question 90. What is the quickening of the new man?
Answer. It is a sincere joy of heart in God, through Christ, and with love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works.
Question 91. But what are good works?
Answer. Only those which proceed from a true faith, are performed according to the law of God, and to his glory; and not such as are founded on our imaginations, or the institutions of men.
Here is the first question and answer from The Westminister Larger Catechism:
Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 