Caesar’s Mammon – The Truth of God
Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
According to this statement, did Jesus ultimately mean paying taxes to Caesar?
Since this is a “figurative” answer, no one can confirm the above question.
Jesus did not answer them directly, but took out Caesar’s coin to confirm that what is Caesar’s should be returned to Caesar.
Because this coin is Caesar’s. This is shown through the image of Caesar printed on the coin.
Then he said, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21They answered, “Caesar’s.”
But notice: this coin is in their pockets and it is theirs—that is, the Pharisees’.
So the Pharisees are accepting Caesar’s money. That is, the Pharisees are accepting Caesar’s authority over them (1). Because that coin is Caesar’s authority. So of course these Pharisees have been paying taxes. Yet they still go to test the Lord to trap Him. Jesus, knowing their evil intentions, answered them: You hypocrites, why are you testing me?
But the final answer, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” distinguishes the opposition of ownership between Caesar and God. That is, what is Caesar’s is not God’s and what is God’s is not Caesar’s
Jesus made it clearer in the following verse: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money…The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this and sneered at him…because what is esteemed by men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Matthew 6:24)
So this coin is Caesar’s Not God’s (2)
So according to the above mention, what belongs to God and not to Caesar?
The above verse answers this:
They sent their disciples to Him with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth, and do not show partiality to anyone; for You do not regard the person of men.”
People clearly see the “way of God.” The “way” is of God. Or in the book of Mark: “but teach the way of God in accordance with all truth.” Or in the book of Luke: “teaching the way of God in truth.”
That is: “The way of Truth is of God” not of Caesar (3)
and according to the righteousness of “return to each one his own,” it was the Pharisees who were breaking the law. Why?
Because “They watched Him closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, to catch Him in something He said, so that they might deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor.”
Or in other words, because they wanted to “hand Him over to Caesar”While they had affirmed themselves: “Teacher, we know that you are a true man, and fear no man; for you do not regard the appearance of men, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Or in other words, they were affirming that He was “the truth.” So to hand Him over was to hand over the Way of Truth.
And they even more affirmed themselves “not to fear any man; because you do not look at the outward appearance of people”. That is, He taught the Way of Truth and did not fear Caesar (4). Because “the outward appearance” is Caesar or material wealth (money, silk, houses, cars, …).
But they-the Pharisees still wanted to “rob the True Word of God to deliver it to Caesar” (5)
Concluding from (1) (2) (3) (4) (5), Jesus defined righteousness specifically: Render to Caesar the mammon of Caesar & Jesus-the True Word of God to God.
Here, people ask like Pilate: What is the True Word? (John 18:38)