March 21, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus on Paying Taxes & the Resurrection
Scripture: Matthew 22:15-33(NIV)
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”
29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
Devotional
Jesus said in verse 21 from Mathew 22, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. This statement seems very simple but there is much more to it than meets the eye. Think of walking down the street in a really bad mood and a young man smiles and says hi. Do you ignore this gesture or return the greeting? God would want you to return the gesture, no matter what your mood feels. We must continue to find ways to treat people just as we want to be treated ourselves, but also because God created us to be that way in every part of our lives.
Recently, I was at a meeting where we were all asked to help set up and take down tables and chairs for an event that many of us planned to attend for our enjoyment. I was not wanting to help do these things-just being lazy. However, something made me realize that if I want to be part of the program, I should be willing to help out. The selfish us comes out very often in situations like this and we think of all sorts of reasons not to help. I had just read the above verse and realized, If I want to give back to God what is His, I must help get ready for the program.
Daily we should all remember to respect others as we like to be respected, honor others as they should honor us and generally, treat everyone as God created us to live.
Today-what can you do for your neighbor to show your love for God?
Poem
Gittith - Played Upon Heart Strings
Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalm 84:1-2,10
Who is in charge?
To whom do I owe my allegiance?
To the One who calls me to His courts
My King!
Who for me has provided
Sanctuary, safety
A nest, a refuge
Great gladness
E’en when I’m far off
How I long and pant in my soul
To know fullness of life
Resurrection!
E’en in times of drought
My King rains within me
Filling the springs of
My heart
Listen all to this wisdom true
Far better is one day
One moment, one prayer within
God’s court
Than thousands of years
In the most entertaining
Arena, stadium, or even a
Human heart love
