Whose Image Do You Bear?

Matthew presents a question about taxes that is meant to trap Jesus. Jesus can say yes and make all his words about the kingdom of heaven look like fluff, a pie in the sky dream. Jesus can say no and give the Roman authorities a reason to arrest him for encouraging rebellion. But Jesus refuses the simple yes or no. Jesus asks for a coin: “Whose head is this and whose title?”

The denarius bears the emperor’s image, and Jesus answers, give “to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus’ answer sounds like an amazing mic drop moment. But the answer is not nearly as simple as it first sounds. Citizenship in the kingdom of heaven is not simple in a world ruled by emperors, greed, money, and power.

The coin itself exposes the trouble. The inscription names Tiberius Caesar as the son of the divine Augustus. The image belongs to an earthly ruler claiming divine standing, and that coin is handed to Jesus, the Son of the one and only living God. The Roman coin has found its way even into the temple. The kingdoms of this world do not conveniently stay outside the holiest places.

Jesus’ answer therefore reaches beyond paying taxes. The question of what belongs to Caesar opens up questions about what belongs to a nation and how citizenship in heaven shapes choices, voting, and daily life. But Jesus’ question about the image on the coin also turns attention toward the person holding the purse: whose image does that person bear?

God’s image marks every beloved child of God. Jesus Christ claims not merely a portion of someone’s money, but that person’s life, choices, talents, and time. Christ has given his life for those who bear the Creator’s image and the likeness of God’s Son.

Faithful living in Matthew is not merely about defeating empires or adopting an all or nothing policy. Faithful living means loving people, even enemies, and living in hope that the kingdom of heaven will come to all. The call to love does not make every difficult choice straightforward. The call does give those choices their direction: to be the face of Christ for all the world.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Citizenship in heaven is not simple. The kingdom of heaven places real demands on life in a world ruled by money and power. Jesus’ answer refuses to turn those demands into a tidy yes or no. Faithfulness requires taking difficult choices seriously, with fear and trembling, rather than pretending that allegiance to Christ makes every answer obvious. [25:54]
• 2. The coin exposes a rival claim. The denarius carries more than purchasing power; its inscription gives an earthly ruler divine standing. The coin’s presence in the temple shows how easily the claims of empire enter even holy places without causing a second thought. Jesus, the Son of the living God, exposes the difference between an emperor’s claim and God’s rightful place. [27:28]
• 3. God’s image claims the whole life. Jesus’ question reaches beyond the image stamped on money to the image borne by the person holding it. God’s claim includes time, talents, choices, and life itself, not merely whatever remains after other obligations are met. Christ’s gift of his own life makes that belonging personal: the Creator’s image is also a calling to show the face of Christ. [30:43]
• 4. Love and hope direct difficult choices. Faithful living is more than opposition to the powers of this world. The call to love includes enemies, refusing to let conflict decide who deserves care. Hope in God’s coming kingdom keeps that love directed toward all people, even when the next faithful step is not straightforward. [29:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [22:23] - A Tax Question Meant to Trap Jesus
• [24:35] - Caesar’s Coin and God’s Claim
• [25:36] - Citizenship Is Not Simple
• [26:58] - The Emperor’s Image in the Temple
• [29:04] - Whose Image Does a Person Bear?
• [29:57] - Loving All People and Living in Hope
• [30:43] - Belonging to Christ in Every Choice

Bible Reading

Matthew 22:15-22
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” [22:23]

Genesis 1:27
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” [30:32]

Philippians 2:12
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” [26:48]

Observation questions

1. In Matthew 22:15–22, how was the tax question intended to trap Jesus? What could his opponents do with either a yes or a no? [23:06]
2. What did the denarius’s image and inscription communicate about the emperor beyond his political authority? [27:28]
3. How does the question about the image on the coin lead to a question about the person holding it? How does Genesis 1:27 connect with that shift? [29:40]
4. What parts of a person’s life are named as belonging to Christ, beyond the money in their pocket? [30:43]

Interpretation questions

1. If everything belongs to God, why would Jesus’ answer in Matthew 22:15–22 mean more than dividing life into a government part and a God part? [25:11]
2. What does the presence of the emperor’s coin in the temple reveal about how easily money and power can become accepted within religious life? [28:12]
3. How might Paul’s call in Philippians 2:12 encourage believers to approach difficult civic choices with humility and care rather than assuming every answer is obvious? [26:41]
4. Why does bearing God’s image matter for how Christians treat political opponents or enemies, even when strong disagreements remain? [30:09]

Application questions

1. Where do you currently feel tension between belonging to Christ and the expectations of your workplace, community, or nation? What makes that situation difficult to navigate faithfully? [25:54]
2. Money and power can shape even the holiest places. Where might a desire for wealth, influence, or status be shaping your priorities—or those of your church—without much notice? [28:20]
3. Think about your calendar, spending, or use of a particular talent. What might change in one of these areas if you approached it as belonging to Christ rather than simply being yours to manage? [30:43]
4. How does your citizenship in God’s kingdom shape the way you discuss public issues, make voting decisions, or respond to people who disagree with you? Where would you welcome greater clarity or humility? [29:15]
5. Who do you find difficult to love right now? How might remembering that this person bears God’s image help you choose one concrete act of care without pretending the disagreement does not matter? [30:09]
6. What difficult decision are you facing that has no easy yes-or-no answer? How might love for the people involved and hope in God’s coming kingdom guide your next step? [31:03]