ISB ~ Matthew 22 v21

Caesar’s … God’s:Jesus evades the intended trap (22:17) with a subtle and riddle-like response. His words have several implications. (1) At one level, Jesus plays on the word “likeness” (literally, “image”). Caesar’s coins could be given back to him in taxes without religious compromise; after all, he minted the coins with his own image and they were his rightful property. (2) More important, everyone has the duty of giving himself—created in the “image” of God (Gen 1:27)—back to God. Jesus implies that this higher duty is incumbent even upon Caesar. (3) Jesus’ response turns his adversaries’ trap back on themselves. He hints that taxation is the result of their own sins—had Israel been giving God his due, they would not have been subjected to the yoke of Roman rule. (4) In the end, Jesus affirms the propriety of fulfilling civil duties while emphasizing our primary duty of serving God (cf. Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:1317; CCC 2242).