(Note: I do not plan my devotions after national holidays, but this did turn out to be quite appropriate for 4 July, American Independence Day).

Matthew 22:15-22 .”

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entrap him by his talk.

¹⁶ And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not influenced by appearances.

¹⁷ So tell us, what you think. Is it allowed to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus, aware of their malevolence, said, “Why do you actors put me to the test?

¹⁹ Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.

²⁰ And Jesus said to them, “Whose face and writing is this?”

²¹ They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “So give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

²² When they heard it, they were amazed. And they left him and went away.

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straddling between kingdoms

Matthew does not miss an opportunity to share incidents in Jesus’ life that involve his old occupation. He has already shared a number of stories featuring taxes, tax booths, and tax collectors.[1] This one, in which the Pharisees and Herodians seek to trap him with a political question, probably had a huge impact on Matthew’s life and ministry. The antagonists were determined to make Jesus draw the line in the sand and insist on either loyalty to political authority or divine authority. Jesus’ illustration of the coin was brilliant, because it showed that such line-drawing was not necessary. We all benefit from political allegiances, and as long as those allegiances do not encroach upon our duties to God, they are OK.

There are aspects of our lives that are going to align with cultural distinctions, rather than kingdom distinctions. Our identity as kingdom citizens is not harmed by those aspects, in fact they can be a benefit, in that they give us an in-road to others like us, who also need the gospel. For that reason also, it is helpful to keep one foot in this world, and one foot in the next. As long as we never forget to whom we owe ultimate allegiance, that straddling between kingdoms will work.

LORD, help us stay committed to you, and connected the world you want us to reach.

[1] 5:46; 9:9ff; 10:3; 11:19; 17:24f; 18:17; 21:31f; 22:17,19.