15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.[ b ] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.[ c ] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV)

Past parables

The three parables, including the wedding, are done. Jesus got His point across. But the religious leaders aren’t happy about it. They knew Jesus was showing their error. Matthew 21:45 says, “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them.” 

Pharisee trap

So some of the religious leaders, the Pharisees, decided to try and trap Him to discredit Him and break up His movement. They crafted a trick question for the One who created their minds! But they didn’t go themselves. Rather, they wimped out and sent their disciples to “do the dirty work”. They must have been so proud of their question and confident it would trap Him they didn’t need to be there. Or, they wanted to “play it safe” in case He foiled their plan.

Plot foiled

And indeed Jesus foiled their plot to discredit Him. I can just imagine them standing there silent in response to His amazing wisdom. It was even greater than Solomon’s – like when he devised a clever way to discern the true mother of a baby (1 Kings 3:16-28). You bet, “they marveled”!(v22)  They were speechless. They left, “with their tail between their legs”. 

Render unto God

Jesus used this opportunity to teach them an important lesson. We are to be obedient to the government (as Paul future elaborates in Romans 13:1-7), this is true. But our real allegiance is where? That is where our service and resources should go. Remember Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “for where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)

RЯeflection

• Have you rendered to God what is God’s? What about you have you surrendered to God? What are you holding back? Time, talents, money, hopes and dreams, relationships, success? Take some time now to consider this and then take action as the Spirit leads.