The Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus by getting him to either deny the law of the land (Caesar) or the temple law. "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" they asked. Upon inspection of the coin that would be used for this tax, they found Caesar's image and inscription on. At the time there were two (at least) types of currency being used. One was Roman and the other Jewish. The reason for the moneychangers to have been in the court yard, from Matthew 21:12-17, was so the people could exchange their Roman money for Jewish currency as they could not use Roman currency to purchase the animals they needed to make their required offerings at the temple.
So when his would be accusers are asked to show him a coin; they empty their pockets (bags?) and come up with, not a Jewish coin, but a Roman one. So then, who is the author of this coin? To whom does it belong? Who is it that they put their trust in (a bit of a stretch, but I'm going there, anyway); God or Caesar? So here's a little food for thought... Empty out your purse, or wallet, or maybe that drawer or closet. What have you got hidden where no one can see it? Does it belong to God or man? Where is your allegiance? Whom or what have you put your faith in? In whom do you trust?
God's Peace - Pr. J
So when his would be accusers are asked to show him a coin; they empty their pockets (bags?) and come up with, not a Jewish coin, but a Roman one. So then, who is the author of this coin? To whom does it belong? Who is it that they put their trust in (a bit of a stretch, but I'm going there, anyway); God or Caesar? So here's a little food for thought... Empty out your purse, or wallet, or maybe that drawer or closet. What have you got hidden where no one can see it? Does it belong to God or man? Where is your allegiance? Whom or what have you put your faith in? In whom do you trust?
God's Peace - Pr. J
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