In this week’s message, Pastor Tom looks at Jesus’ well-known saying, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s.” In an election year what are the implications for us in relation to the government and to our neighbor? Are our loyalties to “church and state” at odds with one another or is there a way to be both a faithful follower of Christ and a faithful citizen, regardless where we live?
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 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. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 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. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 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.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV)
Preacher: Pastor Tom Zucconi
