“The Kingdom of God”
A Question Meant to Trap
In Matthew 22:15–22, some religious leaders approach Jesus with a question about taxes. They hope to trap him: should people pay taxes to Caesar or not? Jesus recognizes their intention and asks whose image is on the coin. When they answer, “Caesar’s,” he replies, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” His answer avoids their trap while pointing beyond it—to the deeper things that belong to God.
Seeing the Kingdom
Again and again, people around Jesus struggle to understand what he is teaching. He speaks of the kingdom of heaven through images familiar to his listeners: a tiny mustard seed that grows, a precious pearl worth everything, and a treasure hidden in a field. These stories help us imagine the beauty of God’s promise, even when its fullness is difficult to grasp.
Jesus keeps telling people that God’s kingdom is near and that a new way of life is possible. He teaches us to pray for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. He calls us to love our neighbors, to trust God, and to live with compassion.
Giving to God What Is God’s
Jesus did not urge people toward violence or treason. He pointed them toward God. Yet he would eventually be condemned under a charge of treason, despite spending his life proclaiming grace, hope, love, and peace.
In a confused and often violent world, we can ask what it means to give God what belongs to God. Our gratitude, our devotion, and our care for one another are all ways of honoring the One who gives us life. We may not be able to make the world perfect, but we can help make it look a little more like heaven through the choices we make each day.
So let us keep speaking of God’s kingdom—not as a distant dream, but as a promise that shapes our lives now. Through faith and loving action, we can share its hope and peace with the people around us.
1st Scripture Reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Good Example
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
2nd Scripture Reading
Exodus 33:17-23
17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.
22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.
23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
3rd Scripture Reading
Matthew 22:15-22
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.