Tell us, then, what you think.

Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?

Matthew 22:17

This was a trick question.

The Pharisees and others were seeking to discredit the teaching and authority of Jesus and worked up this question about taxes.

If Jesus says “yes” it could imply that loyalty to the Emperor rivals loyalty to God.

If he says “no” then he can be branded as an anti-Roman insurrectionist.

Jesus, in typical form, offers his own question as a retort.

In doing so, he brings forward the question for people of faith: what obligation do I have to the government?

Is being faithful to God synonymous with being a patriot?

What about laws and policies that go against Jesus’ teachings?

Join us Sunday as we dig into Jesus’ response and consider the role of faith in our civil life.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.