Luke 20:25
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Jesus gave this answer when spies tried to trap him over paying the Roman tax, hoping to accuse him of rebellion if he opposed it or of opposing God's law if he approved it. He pointed to Caesar's image and inscription on the tribute coin to identify what belonged to the government, and answered directly rather than evading the question. The answer establishes that meeting the legitimate claims of civil government, including taxes and obedient subjection to its laws, is right and lawful and does not break God's law. That obedience is due only so long as it does not conflict with higher duty, for first allegiance belongs to God and his claims must be met at all times. Giving God what belongs to him rebukes neglect of duty to him and requires that he receive first from a person's means in tithes and offerings, a duty that debt does not excuse and prosperity should enlarge into proportionate self-sacrifice.
Trap and Candid Answer
The saying was given as an answer to spies sent to trap Jesus over paying tribute to Caesar, where denying its lawfulness could be reported to Rome as rebellion and approving it could be used to charge Him with opposing God's law. He did not accept either side of the trap they had prepared, but settled their question and upset their plans. Before answering He asked whose image and inscription were on the tribute coin, and they were Caesar's, thereby identifying what belonged to Caesar's government.
He answered the disputed Roman tax directly and candidly rather than evading it, establishing a clear principle that settled the vexed question for many hearers, though some remained dissatisfied. His wise reply exposed the hypocrisy and presumption of the questioners, left them with nothing more to say, and showed those present that their plot had failed. Romans who were present saw that the plot had failed. It stands as an example of meeting an artful question meant to entangle with plain intelligence, bringing light to listeners and sowing seeds of truth.
The verse teaches that duty to the reigning power, including paying tribute, is right and lawful and does not break God's law, contrary to the claim among the Jews that paying a foreign power violated Jewish law. Jesus Himself paid the tribute and taught His disciples to do so, proving He was no leader of sedition. That fact contradicts the later false accusation that He forbade paying tribute to Caesar or led rebellion against Roman rule. The verse belongs to His warnings about rejecting the Son of God, and its warning applies in every age to those who refuse Christ as Redeemer unless they repent.
Duties to Government and God
The verse lays down a clear dividing line between two different obligations, assigning to civil power what belongs to it and to God what belongs to Him, while giving God first place in loyalty. Those who live under a civil government and enjoy its protection are to satisfy its rightful demands, furnishing taxes and the support it requires. They are at the same time to remain peaceably subject to the laws of the land and obey them.
That submission to earthly authority is conditional, holding only where it does not clash with duty to a higher authority. Even while honoring civil claims, people are to obey God always and to meet His claims upon them at all times.
Israel's loss of independence and coming under Rome illustrates the principle from the other side, for subjection to Rome and Roman control of Jerusalem came as punishment for unfaithfulness and turning away from God. Had the Jews faithfully met what they owed to God, they would not have been left a broken nation under foreign domination.
Giving God His Due
The command to give to God what belongs to Him rebukes neglect of obligations to God and requires that those obligations be met. Had those obligations been faithfully fulfilled, the Jews would not have become a broken nation under foreign rule, for Roman control of Jerusalem was the penalty for apostasy from God. Those living under civil government are to give that government the support it claims, including taxes, and to remain peaceably subject to the laws of the land, so long as doing so does not conflict with duty to God, whom they must obey at all times.
What is owed to God must be given to God, just as what is owed to others must be given to them, for God has the first and sacred claim on a suitable proportion of a person's means in tithes and offerings. That duty to render to God what belongs to Him comes before claims on one's possessions for children, and to withhold a suitable proportion for their benefit is to rob God. Duties to God remain distinct from debts owed to other people, so being in debt does not excuse withholding an offering from God or postponing giving until every debt is paid. A person in debt should subtract the amount owed from what is possessed and give a proportion of what remains to the Lord. Those whom God has prospered should respond with self-sacrifice and offerings proportionate to the blessings received, since neglect of God's requirements through attachment to possessions and worldly business turns His blessings into a curse.