“So Jesus said, “Well, then, pay the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12: 17)
Christ lays down a principle of conduct for Christians in the world. He says in effect: give to Caesar what belongs to it and give to God what belongs to God. Today, Caesar is the government.
What belongs to the government are our intercession, obedience to just laws and taxes. Jesus lays down here the foundation of the teaching on government which St. Paul expanded in his writings. The worldly authority represented here by Caesar exists in accordance with God’s will.
We owe to our God:
- Obedience
- Worship
- Prayer
- Love
The obligations to Caesar and to God are not mutually exclusive.
Lord, teach me to honor all my obligations to the state and to you.
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