What Do I Owe You?

Daily Reading: Matthew 22

Scripture Focus: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22.21)

Devotional Thought: In Matthew 22, members of the religious establishment sought – unsuccessfully – to discredit Jesus.  One of the traps they set was a question about paying taxes to feed the ever-increasing appetite of government – opposed by people then as much as today!  Jesus did not fall into their trap.  He simply said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”  He left it up to them to answer the questions that might come up.

We have questions to answer, also.  First, "Who is 'Caesar'"?  And, "What do we owe him?"  In Jesus’ day, Caesar represented the governmental entities from which the people derived benefits and protection.  There was the Roman government and the Judean government (under the Roman government).  Each of those entities provided certain benefits to the people.  Our “Caesar” would be the federal, state, and local governments.  From these governmental entities we derive benefits: protection from foreign and domestic threats, social services, roads, water, courts, oversight of utilities and businesses, and so on.  We need to pay taxes to support these benefits. 

I think this passage can be applied to the relationships between parents and children, between employers and employees, between teachers and students, between neighbors and friends.  What do we owe government... family... employers... schools... and community?  Like he did with the Pharisees, Jesus allows us to answer that question based on our individual circumstances.  But we must do so in light of Romans 13.8: "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

Living in community brings many responsibilities.  Are we fulfilling those responsibilities?

Prayer: Lord, I recognize that I am indebted - first of all to you, but also to the many people and systems that have given me great benefit.  Help me to responsibly render to each their due.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 89.5-13

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,

7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?

8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?

9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.

12 The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.

13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.