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Meditation for October 17 & 18
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It's time for your "Car Ride Questions." As we prepare for worship every week, it's good to spend some time with the upcoming readings. We call these "Car Ride Questions" but they could just as easily be "Walking the Dog Questions" or "Dinner Table Questions." Regardless, let's grow in faith by reading and talking with one another!
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This week, Jesus responds to a question involving money and politics. Oh boy!
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But, before we get to far down that road, let's resist the urge to read this text as only regarding things like Church vs state, citizenship, and the like. Our Creator is reminding us of something more...
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Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they said to him. Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
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After reading the text, consider these prompts:
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- Summarize these verses using your own words.
- Pause and discuss the intent behind the question designed to entrap Jesus. Whether His response is, "yes" or "no," the consequences could be severe. Why?
- Jesus says that the coins belong to Caesar because they have his "image and inscription" and, therefore, can be given back to him. Where can the image and inscription of God be found? Discuss.
- What might it look like to give God "the things that are His?"
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Drive safe and God bless your meditation this week!
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