Render to God What Is God’s

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 20:19-26.

The scribes and chief priests realize that Jesus has spoken a parable against them. They send spies in an attempt to trap Jesus. In their hypocrisy, these men end up speaking true words concerning Jesus, even though they do not believe what they say. They attempt to trap Jesus in a question about paying taxes to Caesar, thinking that He will either run afoul of the Romans or the faithful Israelites. Jesus exposes their hypocrisy and teaches the truth in having His opponents show Him a denarius. Caesar rightly is concerned with money and taxes, as God has entrusted earthly authority to him. Yet Jesus places Caesar’s authority in the proper context of God’s authority over all. Even as Christians render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, Christians always give to God all that belongs to Him, for their faith is finally in God alone.

“The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have certainty concerning the things he had been taught. As we still read the Word of God recorded by St. Luke, our gracious Lord gives us that same certainty that Jesus is our Savior.