Scripture
“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

Observation
The Pharisees try to trap Jesus into saying something that will get him into trouble. They flatter him in the hope of softening him up, but Jesus is aware of their motives.

They ask if it is right to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus responds by asking to see a Roman coin.

“Whose picture is on the coin?” he asks. “Caesar's” they reply.

Jesus then tells them to give to Caesar what is his, but to give to God what belongs to God.

Application
The Pharisees want to get rid of Jesus one way or another. They know that if Jesus says that taxes shouldn't be paid to Rome the Romans will get him, but if he says that they should be paid then the zealots will get him.

Jesus points out in his reversal of the question that taxes are not the real issue but rather the loyalties of our heart. If I'm really sold out to God then tax isn't an issue for me.

In fact we find it so easy to get influenced by political and economic issues when Jesus wants us to seek His kingdom and his ways first so that he can look after the other things.

Prayer
Lord you deserve the highest loyalty in my heart. Help me to put you first and then to trust you to look after everything else. Amen.