The Things that are God’s

This series provides us a glimpse of a new way of living and being always in the presence of God. It is affirmation and transformation. We are reminded that we are loved and called into new life and new hope and into a community of mutual support and encouragement.

The title of this two-part series reminds us of the goal, that hope is in sight because we are living the love of God every day. Every time we act as the church with the work of discipleship, justice, and joy, we reflect this hope; we catch a glimpse of our destination. We are a people who live with the end in sight.

Additionally, this series falls within the parameters of Children’s Sabbath Weekend. We encourage you to incorporate the Children’s Defense Fund’s resources into your worship experience this October. The National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths® is always designated for the third weekend in October. This year, it is October 20-22, 2023. However, many places of worship participate on alternate dates—other weekends in October and even different months—for a variety of reasons. As you celebrate, we encourage you to share information with the Children’s Defense Fund, so we can connect efforts across dates, locations, and traditions.

Click here for more information on the Children’s Defense Fund and The National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths®.

Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, Year A

Matthew 22: 15-22, NIRV

Is It Right to Pay the Royal Tax to Caesar?

¹⁵ The Pharisees went out. They made plans to trap Jesus with his own words. ¹⁶ They sent their followers to him. They sent the Herodians with them. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of honor. You teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t let others tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. ¹⁷ Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus knew their evil plans. He said, “You pretenders! Why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin people use for paying the tax.” They brought him a silver coin. ²⁰ He asked them, “Whose picture is this? And whose words?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.”

²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Verses marked NIRV are from New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Object:

• Quarter (coin)

Message:

Has anyone ever asked you a “trick” question? What do I mean by a “trick” question? (Allow children to respond.) A trick question tries to make someone answer a certain way, usually the wrong way. A trick question could also be a question that doesn't have a correct answer or that hides the real question. Here’s an example of what I mean by a trick question: “What are two things you can never eat for breakfast?” (Allow children to guess.) The two things that you cannot eat for breakfast are lunch and dinner. See how tricky that is? Here’s another one: “What if you had two best friends, and someone asks you, ‘Which one do you like best?’” You like them both the same, and you really can’t choose one friend over the other, but this person is asking you to choose. So, this isn’t a fair question.

In today’s scripture passage from Matthew, the Pharisees, who are the religious leaders of the time, were asking Jesus a trick question. They were trying to trap him with his answer and get him in trouble. The question they asked was, “Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?” This is a trick question because if Jesus said that you should pay taxes to Caesar, most of the Jewish people would be upset with that answer because they didn’t like Caesar. But if Jesus said that you shouldn’t pay taxes to Caesar, then the police might arrest him because you had to pay those taxes. The Pharisees knew what was right from wrong, but they were trying to trick Jesus with his answer.

Do you know what Jesus did? (Allow children to respond.) Jesus took their trick question and turned his answer into another question that he asked of them. Jesus asked the Pharisees to show him the money that they pay taxes with, and they showed him a coin. The coin looked very similar to the quarter that I have in my hand. (Show the children the coin.) Then Jesus continued, “Whose picture is on this coin?” Their answer was, “Caesar.” Jesus replied, “So, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.”

What do you think Jesus meant by telling them to give back to God what belongs to God? (Allow children to answer.) As the church, we must offer more than thoughts and prayers to people who are being treated unfairly. We must use our voices to speak out about the unfair things we see in our neighborhoods. We must use our money to help support God’s work. We can use our money to help people discover the love of Jesus. We must give back to God!

This coin has a picture of George Washington on it. The coin that the Pharisees showed Jesus had Caesar’s picture stamped on it. In this passage, Jesus reminds us by turning the question around; we are not created in Caesar’s image, but God’s! All of us are made in the image of God. How does knowing you were created in God’s likeness make you feel? (Allow children to answer.) It feels good!

This passage also calls us to make a difference. God wants us to give God what is God’s. God wants us to pay our respect, love, and obedience to God. God wants us to offer our whole selves and be willing to serve God with our whole heart and entire life!

Prayer:

Loving God, we offer to you our respect, our love, and our obedience. We want to give you what is yours. We want to give you our whole selves. We want to serve you with our whole heart to make a difference in this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.