Have you ever been asked a question that felt like a test, one that exposed where your heart really stands? The story of the tribute money is exactly that—enclosed in a legal trap but turned into a revelation about ultimate loyalty. When Jesus is asked whether it’s lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, he doesn’t flinch; he redirects the conversation from clever debate to the deeper question of who owns you.

In Matthew 22:15–22, Mark 12:13–17, and Luke 20:20–26 Pharisees and Herodians conspire to trap Jesus. They ask if it’s lawful to pay imperial tax, hoping he’ll offend either the crowd or the authorities. They even show him a denarius (Mark and Luke name the coin). Jesus asks whose likeness is on the coin; they answer, “Caesar’s.” He replies, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” All three Synoptics include the incident; John does not record it. The Gospels agree on the sting of the question and Jesus’ clever answer; Mark and Luke emphasize the coin’s image, Matthew underscores the trap.

This passage lays bare something essential: Jesus recognizes both earthly authority and divine sovereignty. He refuses to be bullied into political stances while refusing to surrender the deeper claim God has on every human life. By pointing to the coin’s image, Jesus exposes a contrast—Caesar’s image on money, God’s image on people (the imago Dei). The moment is weighty: it calls us to a divided loyalty test. The challenge is clear—we cannot serve two ultimate masters; the grace is deeper—Jesus’s answer preserves civic order without abdicating God’s claim on our hearts.

So what does this look like today? Start small and concrete: name one “Caesar” competing for your devotion—money, career advancement, approval on social media, or security in success. This week, deliberately render that thing back to God. If it’s money, give something sacrificially or review your budget with generosity in mind. If it’s approval, take a Sabbath from social media and spend that time in prayer or with a person who reflects God to you. Live as one who bears God’s image—faithful in civic duties, unwavering in ultimate allegiance.