A TRICK QUESTION

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Read: Luke 20:20–26

So the spies questioned him:… Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Luke 20:21-22 NIV

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     Jesus had just spoken a parable which implicated the religious leaders in their plot to kill Him. Not only that, but he referred to prophesies from Psalms and Isaiah in regard to what they were doing:
     “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (20:17-18 NIV)

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     They knew He spoke the parable about them, so in order to trick Him into saying something against Rome they asked, "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" "Caesar's," they replied…” (20:22-25a)

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     Those leaders thought they could trick Jesus into a capital offense. But what they didn't realize was that no one could take His life from Him. They must not have been listening when He said, "My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." ( John 10:17-18 NKJV)

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     Lord, I thank you that as we approach this Easter season we remember that You were indeed victorious over death in the resurrection. Because of Your willingness to lay down Your life and then take it up again, we have the promise of eternal life. How can I ever thank you enough? May my life be lived in the light of this precious gift.

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…He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (20:25b NIV)