“And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’”
— Luke 20:25, NKJV
Most believers know this verse as Jesus’ masterful reply to a political trap. But when we slow down and listen, we hear something far deeper than a clever escape. Jesus is not merely dividing civic responsibility from spiritual devotion—He is declaring war on the human heart’s misplaced priorities.
In essence, Jesus says, “If you groan under Caesar’s earthly demands, you have not yet grasped the weight of what God requires.” The taxes of Rome were heavy, but the debt of sin was—and still is—infinitely heavier. Humanity has never been capable of paying what God requires for righteousness. That is precisely why Jesus came: not to settle economic disputes, but to settle the eternal, unpayable debt of sin.
Yet Jesus goes beyond redeeming us from something; He also redeems us for something. Redemption is the doorway into discipleship—a life of surrender, obedience, and cross-bearing.
The True Cost of Following Christ
Jesus makes the price unmistakably clear:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
— Luke 14:26–27
Paul echoes the same theme:
“I count all things loss… that I may gain Christ.”
— Philippians 3:7–8
The point is not hatred in the emotional sense, but comparison: the supremacy of Christ must subordinate every loyalty, comfort, identity, and earthly pursuit.
Jesus is not calling for a mild adjustment but a total reorientation. He confronts our instinct to use God for personal comfort. He exposes our misplaced trust in governments, systems, or institutions to solve spiritual problems they can never touch. And He reveals how easy it is to focus on political tensions while ignoring the far more urgent matter of the soul’s debt before God.
In modern terms, He is saying: “Stop obsessing over what Caesar demands. Start focusing on what God is owed—your entire life.”
A Declaration of War Against Self
This is why His statement is not merely political—it is personal. It confronts every idol, every impulse, every internal resistance to surrendering control. It is a declaration of war against self-preservation, self-will, and self-rule.
He reinforces this by reminding His listeners of His earlier teaching:
“Do not resist an evil person… Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”
— Matthew 5:39–42
Jesus isn’t advocating passivity; He’s demanding surrender. He is teaching that the kingdom of God advances not by overthrowing earthly oppressors but by overthrowing the tyranny of the self.
God’s Purposes Behind Oppressors
Rome’s authority in Israel was not an accident. It was a tool. Throughout Israel’s history—from Egypt to Babylon to Persia—God used oppressive powers as instruments of refinement. Under Roman rule, Israel learned the weight of submission, the discipline of humility, and the insufficiency of self-deliverance.
Rome’s pressure stripped away illusions and made the people ready—desperate—for their true Deliverer.
And so the question comes to us:
Are we trying to escape a perceived oppressor that God is actually using to humble us?
Legacy Stewardship Through the Lens of Luke 20:25
Legacy stewardship—whether financial, spiritual, relational, or generational—is not primarily about transferring assets. It is about transferring allegiance. It is about asking:
“What does God require of my life, and how do I ensure my legacy reflects that?”
Principles of Legacy Stewardship:
1. Legacy Begins With Surrender, Not Accumulation
2. Your Legacy Is Determined by Your Master
3. Legacy Requires Cross-Bearing, Not Comfort-Seeking
4. Oppression May Be Part of Your Formation
Conclusion: Pay Caesar, but Give God Your Life
Legacy stewardship is not simply a practical exercise—it is a spiritual war. A battle between competing kingdoms. A choice between self-preservation and total surrender.
Jesus’ words come to us again, clear and piercing:
“Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s… and render to God what is God’s.”
Pay Caesar what he demands. Fulfill your earthly responsibilities. Live honorably, wisely, and faithfully.
But never confuse Caesar with God.
God does not merely demand your taxes—
He demands your life.
Amen.
By Christopher L. Walker at myfathersestate.com
