In this sermon from Rev. Robert Brown, we encounter Jesus's familiar saying, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." It's typical of Jesus to answer questions put to him-- especially insincere or hostile questions-- indirectly or as a question back to his questioners. Jesus, like any good Rabbi, leaves his hearers-- that is, us-- to prayerfully wrestle with the issues, rather than simply pocket some abstract life rule for later reference.

Jesus is more concerned with our whole lives-- given over to God the Father, being formed by the Holy Spirit in worship, community, prayer, and spiritual disciplines. The whole universe belongs to God, and is under his sovereign rule. We are called to live coram Deo: before the face of the living God. We belong to God--"body and soul, in life and in death" as the Heidelberg Catechism puts it! The Christian life is a journey, a way, of day-by-day giving back what already belongs to God.

Note: The image associated with this post is of a Roman denarius, very likely the coin that was at the center of Jesus' encounter with the religious leaders.