A Reflection on Luke 20:19–26
Today I’m reflecting on a moment where Jesus was confronted, yet responded with grace and divine wisdom.
“Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
— Luke 20:22
It was a trap. If He said yes, He’d offend the people. If He said no, He’d anger the authorities. But Jesus wasn’t swayed by politics or pressure. He saw through the question and answered with something deeper:
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image is on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
And He said, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
— Luke 20:24–25
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Reflection
This story isn’t just about taxes or government — it’s about identity and allegiance.
Jesus is saying:
Yes, honor your responsibilities in this world. But don’t forget whose image you bear.
That little coin had Caesar’s image stamped on it — it belonged to him.
But my soul bears the image of God — and that means I belong to Him.
So while I live in this world, I won’t let the pressures, politics, or public traps pull me away from what matters most. My heart belongs to God. My worship belongs to God. My hope, my peace, my life — all His.
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Prayer
Jesus,
Thank You for Your wisdom that rises above the noise.
In a world full of competing voices and clever traps,
You see through to the heart.
Today, I want to give You what is Yours —
my attention, my affection, my identity.
Help me live with discernment.
Help me honor what’s right in this world —
but never forget that my true home is in You.
I bear Your image.
I am Yours.
And I give myself to You — not in part, but whole.
Amen.
Your comments are similar to my understanding of this passage. Please let me add that, at that time, Christ's homeland was under Roman occupation. Yet Christ and his disciples (throughout the NT) focused on their faith. Patriotism wasn't important. I realize that's a bit out of the norm for a Christian today. One of the beatitudes was that if a Roman soldier forced you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two. Love for God and our fellow human, the two greatest commandments, are important.
I think Jesus was making another statement. He asked for them to show him the coin. He knew what was on the coin. He didn’t need to see it. His point was to emphasize that they were the ones who had the coin in their possession- not him. He was talking to Jews who knew the first two commandments - no other gods, no graven images. I’m not sure he was necessarily saying it was ok to pay taxes. I just think he was telling them that since they were the ones with the coin, they shouldn’t be asking him the question. They had already made the decision. Just a thought.