Sermon for 10/18/26: Proper 24a

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Honoring God and Caesar
Matthew 22:15-22

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
 

If you are a Christian, then you are a citizen of a nation of this world, and you are also a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. Though very different from each other, these two kingdoms of which you are a citizen, both of them are from God. In God’s left hand kingdom, He appoints civil authorities to maintain order, to defend its citizens, to punish wrongdoers, and to praise those who do what is good and right. But in God’s right hand kingdom, the Gospel holds sway. The Church operates not by threat but by invitation; not by penalties but by the forgiveness of sins. Peace comes through the death of Jesus on the cross, which reconciles us to the Father. It is not a temporary peace between people; it is an everlasting peace with God. The Church is not ruled by the sword but governed by the preaching of God’s Word.

Now, Jesus tells us to give proper honor to both kingdoms: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Give governing authorities the honor and obedience that is due them, for God is the One who has established these governing authorities. They may often abuse their authority; they may not even realize they serve a divine calling. But we are to honor them as servants of God, for by honoring them, we are really honoring God Himself. What Jesus is teaching us here is to look to the office He has established and not so much to the person in the office. Jesus did not say, “Render to Tiberias...” who was Caesar at the time. Tiberias wasn’t a particularly honorable fellow—in truth he was a brutal scoundrel—but he was the ruler. And his divinely established office was to be given the honor it deserved. The office was God’s gift, and it is still that for us today. And because God has established his office, we are to honor him, pay our taxes, and obey whatever laws are in force, as long as those laws do not cause us to sin against God. Then, and only then, can we legitimately resist the earthly authority God has established.

So when the religious leaders of the Jews tried to trap Jesus, He said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” So, what did Jesus mean? We probably understand pretty well the Caesar part, about paying taxes and giving honor. We may not always do it willingly, but we know what it’s about. But what do we render to God?

First, we need to remember that this does not really have anything to do with our offerings. All our money and possessions belong to God anyway. But this isn’t really about money. You give to Caesar the things that bear his image, namely, the coins, the money. And you give to God the things that bear His image. But, what is that? Is it not Jesus Christ Himself? St. Paul wrote to the Colossians: “He is the image of the invisible God...” And Christ Himself is the One to whom the apostle refers, the image of God, “coined,” if you will, in our human flesh. And He was offered up to God as the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. And the inscription was placed over His head at Calvary by an agent of Caesar himself: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

When it comes to settling accounts with God, you can do one of two things; either you can offer Him your own works, which always fall short; or you can trust in the work and sacrifice of Christ, given to the Father as the full payment for your sins. So to render to God the things that are God’s is simply to believe in Christ and rely on Him. It is to point to the crucified Christ and say: “There is my salvation.” But there is even more. Through your Baptism into Christ, the Lord has put His own inscription on You: “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” On you whose image is tarnished by sin, Jesus stamped the sign of the cross and joined you to Himself. You are God’s holy treasure, and in Christ you render your very bodies, Paul says, as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

By your baptismal faith, you are now citizens of heaven. You have entered into God’s right hand kingdom of grace. God, in mercy, has extended that hand to you in Jesus Christ. Jesus was the One who came to live under both God the Father and Caesar. He perfectly kept the law. He received Caesar’s authority as God’s authority. He died under the same Caesar who was pictured on the coin brought to Him by the Jews. Jesus purchased and redeemed you, “not with silver or gold, but with His holy, precious blood.” And this same Jesus now reigns at the right hand of the Father as the King of kings and Lord of lords, whose kingdom shall have no end. He is head over all things for the Church. Though there are things that may threaten you in your life here in the left hand kingdom, the Father holds you safely forever in His right hand. Through Jesus you are citizens of heaven. And so, the deepest love of our hearts is not on this passing world, but on that better, heavenly country. These lowly bodies of ours, racked with sin and death, will be transformed by Christ. We will no longer be subject to all the troubles of this world. No longer will sin and death be able to threaten you. You will live before God amidst the holy pleasures of the new creation eternally.

So let us honor God in both of His kingdoms. Yes, show allegiance to our county, honoring those in positions of authority over us. And above all else, give allegiance to the eternal Father, to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, to His saving Word through which the Holy Spirit gives and keeps us in the true faith, and to our catechism and creeds which faithfully confess that Word. Let us hold forth the holy cross of Christ as our greatest sign, the banner of our salvation. For though it is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, the cross of Jesus Christ remains the power and wisdom of God and the only way to enter His everlasting, unshakable kingdom. In the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.