Luke 20:20-26 — Whose image?

READ THIS: Luke 20:20-26

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 

21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

The religious leaders sent people to try to catch Jesus saying something treasonous. They wanted to get rid of Jesus, and the Roman government was good at taking down people who were against them. The leaders thought Jesus would say something along the lines of "No, it isn't right for us to pay taxes to Caesar because he's not God." That would have sent Jesus to the governor and punishment/death pretty quickly. Instead, Jesus says that things belong to those whose image they bear. A little picture/image of Caesar was on the coin. That means the coins belonged to Caesar. 

Jesus then says that we are supposed to give back to God what is God's. That means things that bear God's image belong to God. Where is God's image on something...? 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Read Genesis 1:26-30 in the Try This section. Where is God's image? How do we give that image back to God?
 
2. Why do you think the religious leaders were "astonished" by Jesus' answer? Imagine being amazed/shocked by Jesus' answer...what about His answer would make you feel astonished?

TRY THIS:

Read Genesis 1:26-30:

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

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