Welcome back to Outlaw Faith, where today we’re opening one of the most misquoted lines in Scripture:
“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” — Matthew 22:21
This verse gets thrown around whenever someone wants Christians to sit down and shut up about politics — like Jesus was telling us to mind our business and just pay taxes. But if you actually look at the context — and ask the right question — you realize this isn’t about keeping God out of government at all. It’s about recognizing who actually owns everything in the first place.
The Setup — and the Mic Drop
The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking if Jews should pay taxes to Rome. If He said “yes,” He’d look like a sellout to Rome. If He said “no,” they could accuse Him of rebellion. Classic setup.
Jesus asked for a coin and said:
“Whose image is on this?”
“Caesar’s,” they answered.
That’s when He dropped the line:
“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Most people stop there. But the real punch is what He didn’t say.
The Real Question: What Belongs to God?
Here’s the logic Jesus was setting up:
- The coin has Caesar’s image on it — fine, give it back to him.
- But what has God’s image on it?
You do. Your kids do. Your marriage does. Your whole life bears God’s image. That means Caesar has no rightful claim over any of it. It’s all God’s — your work, your parenting, your land, your education, your body, your loyalty.
So if we render unto Caesar things that actually belong to God — like handing over our kids’ education, our moral compass, or even our understanding of truth — what are we saying?
We’re saying we don’t think those things belong to God.
That’s not just bad politics — that’s bad theology.
What We’ve Handed Over (Without Even Thinking)
Here’s a list of things Americans (including a lot of Christians) have handed to Caesar with a shrug:
✅ Our kids — letting government schools teach them what to believe about life, truth, gender, history, and even God.
✅ Our rights — acting like government grants them instead of recognizing they come from the Creator.
✅ Our money — assuming taxes are the price of being “safe,” even when they fund evil.
✅ Our morality — waiting for laws to tell us right from wrong instead of starting with Scripture.
What’s Left for God?
If Caesar gets all that, what’s left for God? Just an hour on Sunday morning and a prayer before dinner?
That’s not rendering to God — that’s tipping Him like a valet. And the Founders knew it. That’s why they tied freedom directly to self-government under God. Because if you’re not governing yourself by God’s truth, some version of Caesar will step in and do it for you.
Biblical Backup
- Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
- Genesis 1:27 — We are made in His image.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 — Parents are commanded to teach God’s ways diligently to their children (not farm it out to Caesar).
- Acts 5:29 — “We must obey God rather than men.”
So What Now?
This isn’t about saying taxes are evil or that government has zero role. It’s about remembering:
Caesar is a steward. God is the Owner.
When Caesar forgets that — or when we do — we end up handing over things God never said belonged to the state.
The Outlaw Faith Challenge
This week, ask yourself:
- What have I handed over to Caesar that actually belongs to God?
- My kids’ education?
- My definition of truth?
- My family’s values?
- My own sense of responsibility for my life?
If the answer is “yes,” it’s time to take it back.
Because God doesn’t just want your Sundays — He wants everything.
Tomorrow: The Founders’ Warning — What Happens When We Kick God Out of Public Life.
