Giving to Caesar: the Role of Human Government

Luke 20:25

Published on: June 19, 2018

Last Updated on: January 27, 2024

He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Luke 20:25 NIV

As Christians, we have citizenship in two kingdoms; the country we live in, and the Kingdom of God. As a citizen of the USA, I have certain obligations and responsibilities. And I need to carry them out in order to be a good citizen. The same holds true for the Kingdom of God; I need to live up to the expectations of my king.

The challenge sometimes is knowing where to draw the line between the two, especially when they seem to have opposing expectations. It may be helpful to remember that God has ordained human government, which puts him at a higher level. My first obligation is to God, the higher authority, and then to human government, the secondary authority. I am to obey the direction of human government that is not counter to the direction of the higher authority. And in doing so I am obeying the higher authority who put the human government over me.

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.