Do Politics And Religion Mix?
It was a trap. The Pharisees set it. Jealous that Jesus was gaining a following, they were eager to destroy him, and they'd do it by using his own words against him.
So they brought Christ a coin, asking him, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?" If he said yes, he'd anger the Jews because they were an occupied nation suffering the indignities of the Roman army. If he said no, he'd incur the wrath of Rome for seditious remarks. Jesus, exhibiting great wisdom, asked to see a coin. "Whose picture is on this coin?" he inquired. "Caesar's," they replied, and in a moment of unforgettable eloquence, Jesus retorted, "Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." Clearly Jesus was saying that his people had something …