The context as I recall is Jesus is being questioned by people looking to get him in trouble. It's a trap question. Does he answer that people should support their roman oppressors and send them their hard earnt money which would be a rather unpopular local opinion, or does he publicly support rebellion and get himself into trouble before it is time.
"render unto Caeser that which is Caeser's, and give unto God that which belongs to God" is then a somewhat ambiguous answer that can be read many ways on its surface. This shows his smarts and stymies his opponents, and raises a lot of good questions and stimulates good discussion, what exactly is Caeser's?
I tend to agree with mpetey123 that people have missed the point. It's not exactly a glowing endorsement of paying taxes, and can reasonably be taken to actually encourage tax resistance, depending on what you think belongs or is coming to Caeser.
Then there is additional context, with the coinage presented not being local money, but a roman coin with a roman emporer's head on it.
The context as I recall is Jesus is being questioned by people looking to get him in trouble. It's a trap question. Does he answer that people should support their roman oppressors and send them their hard earnt money which would be a rather unpopular local opinion, or does he publicly support rebellion and get himself into trouble before it is time.
"render unto Caeser that which is Caeser's, and give unto God that which belongs to God" is then a somewhat ambiguous answer that can be read many ways on its surface. This shows his smarts and stymies his opponents, and raises a lot of good questions and stimulates good discussion, what exactly is Caeser's?
I tend to agree with mpetey123 that people have missed the point. It's not exactly a glowing endorsement of paying taxes, and can reasonably be taken to actually encourage tax resistance, depending on what you think belongs or is coming to Caeser.
There's additional context, with the coinage presented not being local money, but a roman coin with a roman emporer's head on it.
The context as I recall is Jesus is being questioned by people looking to get him in trouble. It's a trap question. Does he answer that people should support their roman oppressors and send them their hard earnt money which would be a rather unpopular local opinion, or does he publicly support rebellion and get himself into trouble before it is time.
"render unto Caeser that which is Caeser's, and give unto God that which belongs to God" is then a somewhat ambiguous answer that can be read many ways on its surface. This shows his smarts and stymies his opponents, and raises a lot of good questions and stimulates good discussion, what exactly is Caeser's?
I tend to agree with mpetey123 that people have missed the point. It's not exactly a glowing endorsement of paying taxes, and can reasonably be taken to actually encourage tax resistance, depending on what you think belongs or is coming to Caeser.
The context as I recall is Jesus is being questioned by people looking to get him in trouble. It's a trap question. Does he answer that people should support their roman oppressors and send them their hard earnt money which would be a rather unpopular local opinion, or does he publicly support rebellion and get himself into trouble before it is time.
"render unto Caeser that which is Caeser's, and render unto God that which belongs to God" is then a somewhat ambiguous answer that can be read many ways on its surface. This shows his smarts and stymies his opponents, and raises a lot of good questions and stimulates good discussion, what exactly is Caeser's?
I tend to agree with mpetey123 that people have missed the point. It's not exactly a glowing endorsement of paying taxes, and can reasonably be taken to actually encourage tax resistance, depending on what you think belongs or is coming to Caeser.
The context as I recall is Jesus is being questioned by people looking to get him in trouble. It's a trap question. Does he answer that people should support their roman oppressors and send them their hard earnt money which would be a rather unpopular local opinion, or does he publicly support rebellion and get himself into trouble before it is time.
"render unto Caeser that which is Caeser's, and render unto God that which belongs to God" is then a somewhat ambiguous answer that can be read many ways on its surface. This shows his smarts and stymies his opponents, and raises a lot of good questions and stimulates good discussion, what exactly is Caeser's?
I tend to agree with mpetey123 that people have missed the point. It's not exactly a glowing endorsement of paying taxes, and can reasonably be taken to actually encourage tax resistance.