God made humanity in His image. Because we bear the image of God, in as sense, He owns us. This is Jesus’s implication when the religious leaders ask Him a question about taxes. They had asked if it is lawful to pay taxes. But Jesus doesn’t answer their question directly. He asks them whose image is on their coins. When their answer acknowledges Caesar, Jesus draws out the significance of image-bearing. Because Caesar created the coin with his image on it, he had a certain right to it. The coins rights derived from Caesar’s authority. Citizens should give Caesar, the government, his due. But God has rights to things, or more accurately, people, as well. As I already noted, He put His image on us. He created humanity in His image giving Him a certain right to us. Interestingly though, that means He also had a right to Caesar, who was also made in God’s image. Jesus’s response reminded the religious leaders not only that they have a responsibility to submit to Caesar, but that they also have a responsibility to submit to God. These religious leaders were doing everything they could to shrug off God’s authority in Jesus. But even Caesar couldn’t do that. Time and again, Jesus reminds the religious leaders who holds true authority. Because God made us in His image, we don’t get to make up the rules for our lives. We are under His authority. He is God, the Creator. We bear His image. We must submit to Him. –Pastor Rory
Sunday at Liberty
9AM: The Holy Spirit–An Introduction
10AM: Pastor Nate–A Citizen Who Submits–Luke 20:20-26 (sermon notes)
6PM: Pastor Nate, et. al.–Spain Report