WHOSE IS THE IMAGE AND SUPERSCRIPTION?
THIS is the test of authorship. There is a letter or a note. Whose is it? And the answer to the question is determined by the signature, the stamp, the superscription. By this principle Jesus Christ settled a great question and escaped a subtle snare laid to entrap Him and nullify His work. Master, said the shrewd ensnarers, Is it lawful for us Jews, God's children, sons of10Abraham, to give tribute to the despised Gentile, Cæsar? Shall we, the chosen people, yield to this? If Jesus should reply, "No, we should give no tribute to Cæsar," His questioners would have accused Him before the Roman court of fostering sedition and rebellion. If Jesus said, "Yes, pay tribute," they would accuse Him of being opposed to the dearest hopes of His nation, and so cut off His influence with His people. How wisely He replied: "Show Me the tribute money [the Roman denarius, or penny]. Whose image and superscription hath it?" They answered and said, Cæsar's. And He said, "Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's, and unto God the things which be God's." How all Church and State questions would clarify in the light of this principle! Take the Sabbath question, for instance: Is it a proper subject for legislation? "Whose image and superscription hath it?" The answer can only truthfully be, God's. He gave the Sabbath. It bears His stamp. It came from Him. "It is holy unto the Lord." Render it to Him; it belongs not to Cæsar.