Then they send some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Yeshua in order to trap Him with a word. They come and say to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are honest, and what others think doesn’t concern You. You don’t look at men’s appearance, but teach the way of G-d according to the truth. Is it permitted to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay, or shouldn’t we?”
But Yeshua saw through their hypocrisy and said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius so I may see it.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they said to Him.
Then Yeshua said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to G-d the things that are G-d’s.” And they were completely amazed at Him.
- Mark 12:13-17
In Torah study recently, Rabbi gave a valuable insight into this story. Yeshua is pointing out that the image of Caesar makes the coin government property. Similarly, humanity bears the image of Adonai and we, therefore, belong to Him. It makes it all the more ironic that those asking the question to try and trap Him mention that Yeshua doesn't look to a man's appearance. He rightly rebukes them because the image of G-d is unmistakable in each person. He created us for His service and He limits the power of kings and nations. We are all aware of the election tomorrow and we each seek the L-rd for wisdom and discernment. As we do so, may we not intertwine too tightly the things of this world and the things of G-d. May we only give to Caesar what is his and entrust to G-d all that is rightly His.
