Over the years, I’ve watched many a TV courtroom drama. Perry Mason, Matlock, Law and Order. The familiar scene opens. Sitting on the witness stand, a young woman is considering the question put to her by the opposing lawyer. She begins to tell the story leading up to the event in question. The lawyer interrupts her. I asked you a simple question. Just answer —“yes” or “no.” She pauses, frowns, and begins again— trying to summarize the background for her testimony. The lawyer interrupts again. Just answer the question—“yes” or “no.” She struggles. For her the question does not have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. The Lawyer insists “yes” or “no.” “No” she pleads. The camera pans to the jury whose faces reflect the lawyer’s victory. Just answer the question—“yes” or “no!” It makes for stirring TV courtroom drama. Just answer the question—“yes” or “no!” It makes for stirring drama in today’s scripture as well.
In the days since his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus has been needling the Pharisees and the temple priests. He has told 3 parables that indict the way they respond to God’s covenant in both their personal lives and in their religious leadership.
They have had it with him. So, today, while he is teaching in the temple—on their turf, they decide to lay a trap for him. They will ask him a simple yes or no question. If he answers “yes,” he will disappoint or possibly enrage the crowds who have gathered around him. If he answers “no,” he may be charged with sedition. “Jesus, is it lawful to pay the toll tax to the emperor?” Just answer the question, Jesus, “yes” or “no.” Yes, and the Jewish crowd, chafing under Roman dominion, will no longer see Jesus as their long-awaited political Messiah. No, and the occupying Romans will indict him for treason—a capital offense—punishable by death on a cross.
Unlike the courtroom witness in my TV example, Jesus answers neither “yes” nor “not. He foils their attempt to trap him. Instead he responds, “Give me the coin used to pay the toll tax.” The tax which provides for the Pax Romana (Roman Peace)—good roads, safe travel, and healthy commerce. “Show me the coin used to pay the tax,” he says. One of his questioners takes the coin from his pocket. Holding it up, Jesus asks “Whose image and whose inscription is on this coin?” They reply, “Caesar’s of course.” Well then, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.
In this exchange Jesus conveys it is possible to be subject to Caesar as ruler and at the same time to honor God as God. The conquered Jews can pay the toll tax and still worship the God whose law and covenant Jesus came to fulfill. This is the message Jesus intends for his audience there in the temple courtyard.
What is the message the gospel writer, Matthew intends for his audience—Jewish and Gentile Christians living in the aftermath of a failed and brutally put down Jewish revolt against Rome? Matthew assures his audience, “Without giving up your allegiance to Christ, you Christians can live in this world that is dominated by the Roman empire.
What about us, today? The question posed to Jesus—is it lawful to pay the tax? Seems irrelevant. We’ve been paying taxes since before the birth of our country. So, is there a message for us—21st century American Christians—in today’s text? I think so. While the question Jesus was asked may not be relevant to us, his answer is relevant. Whose image does this bear and whose inscription is on it? Then give back to him what belongs to him.
The coin Jesus held up bore Caesar’s image. What bears God’s image? We do! We are created in the image of God—endowed with creativity and relationality. We bear God’s image. And what belongs to God? We do! We belong to God. In the Assurance of Pardon today, we heard, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” We belong to God—body, heart, mind, and soul.
Whose inscription is on this? Jesus asked. It was Caesar’s inscription on the coin. Where is God’s inscription? In today’s Assurance of Pardon, we are reminded how God promised to write God’s covenant, to inscribe it, on our hearts. Where is God’s inscription? On our hearts. On us. Where else is God’s imprint? Over all creation. For according to Genesis, God created all that there is—the heavenly bodies—planets, stars, and meteors; the earth—water, rock, soil, and minerals; and all living things—plants and animals. What bears God’s imprint? All of creation.
Give back to God the things that belong to God—the things which bear God’s image and the things which bear God’s engraving. Give back to God ourselves—our bodies, our hearts, our minds, our souls, our gifts, our time, our energy, our resources, our lives. Give back to God, all the things of Gods’ creation.
Uh oh—when I got to this part in writing the sermon, I said—this sounds like stewardship. And I wasn’t going to preach on stewardship. Well, it is stewardship. Biblically, stewardship refers to the dispensation of time, talents, possession, and self.
Giving back to God what belongs to God is living a life of good stewardship—stewardship of all things.
How do we go about giving back to God what belongs to God? My daughter, Mary, has found herself drawn to studying the environment, recognizing how we humans have damaged this earth and learning how we can care for it as God commanded the first humans to care for it. With funding from the town, she coordinated volunteers to prepare the first community gardens of Richmond, Indiana. She recruited elementary and middle school students to tend those gardens. Not only have they learned gardening skills, they have also developed an appreciation for the food they eat. They have experienced the time and effort it takes to plant, cultivate, and harvest. Produce from the gardens stock the local food pantry, and families of these student gardeners are beginning to grow their own vegetables in their own gardens. In so doing, they are reducing their carbon footprint—They are being good stewards of God’s creation.
How do we go about giving back to God what belongs to God? A friend of mine heard about boy who had no a positive male role model in his life. So, my friend began spending time with the boy—playing ball with him. Over the years my friend has developed a deep and lasting relationship with this now young man—encouraging him in school, in relationships, in work, and in play. My friend gives back to God—He’s a good steward of relationships.
How do we go about giving back to God what belongs to God? I have another friend, practicing family law in Austin. He works with many families in the throes of divorce. He helps his clients focus on their children while navigating the dangerous waters of resentment and blame. He helps his clients reach agreements that nurture the physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual health of their precious, impressionable children. My friend practices good stewardship of his talents—He gives back to God in his vocation.
How do we go about giving back to God what belongs to God? Just last spring, you gave back to God—financially. You paid off a $1 million dollar building debt, so that this congregation could look beyond its mortgage. You paid off a $1 million building debt, so that this congregation could focus its time, energy, and resources on the mission and ministry God calls this church to engage in now and in the future. You practiced good stewardship of your money.
Jesus said, “Give back to God the things that belong to God.” We belong to God—body, heart, mind, and soul. So, we give back, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Give back to God, the things that are God’s. In worship, study, and fellowship we prepare ourselves to be good stewards of all that God is giving us. In worship and study, we develop the faith and understanding to discern how God calls us to live and serve. In fellowship we develop relationships that will sustain our serving together. Together, we look to and listen for God’s guidance into the future that God has planned for this particular church. Together we step out courageously.
Jesus said, give back to God the things that are God’s. It is not a gotcha or something else on your list of things to do “to get to heaven.” This is an invitation to abundant life.
For, in giving back to God the things that are God’s, we experience God’s bounty in relationships, in satisfying vocation, and in re-directed priorities. In giving back to God the things that are God’s our perception—our reality—is transformed. We no longer view life through the lens of scarcity. Instead we see life through the spectacles of abundance. In giving back to God, we live into the image of God imprinted on each of one of us—an image of creativity and relationality.
God gives from an overflowing well of love and from an ever-flowing stream of grace. How will you respond to Jesus’ invitation to abundant life? How will you continue to give back to God the things that are God’s?
Using the words from the Brief Statement of Faith printed in the bulletin, please stand and join me in saying what we believe: In life and in death we belong to God . . . With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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