Reflecting God's Image: Giving to God What is His
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 22:15–22 (CEB)
15 Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words.
16 They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism.
17 So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion.
20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked.
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
22 When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.
Reflecting God's Image: Giving to God What is His
In the middle of World War II's chaos and gloom, a unique story arose from the heart of Europe. It is the story of Nicholas Winton, a man whose life profoundly reflected the image of God.
Nicholas was a young British businessman who planned a skiing trip to Switzerland in 1938. But then something happened that forever changed the path of his life. He received a phone call from his friend Martin Blake, who was in Prague, Czechoslovakia, witnessing the plight of Jewish refugees, particularly children, who faced the oncoming threat of the Nazi government.
Nicholas postponed his ski trip and traveled to Prague in a divine moment of inspiration. What he discovered there was heartbreaking: Jewish families were urgently trying to save their children from the horrors of the Holocaust. These parents realized they had no choice but to send their precious children away to safety, even if it meant never seeing them again.
Nicholas volunteered to help. He organized the "Kindertransport," a rescue operation that saved 669 children from Czechoslovakia. He found these children loving homes in the United Kingdom and other nations, assuring their future while their parents endured horrific tragedies.
Winton's acts as he planned the evacuation of these youngsters mirrored the image of God's love, compassion, and selflessness. He exemplified what it means to care for the most vulnerable and to prioritize others' well-being before his own comfort and convenience.
His extraordinary story was uncovered decades later when his wife discovered a scrapbook in their attic with images, documents, and a list of the children he had spared. In the face of enormous pain, Nicholas' humility and selflessness serve as a stunning example of bearing the image of God. His life exemplified the notion that every human being is made in the image of God and hence deserves dignity, love, and protection.
Nicholas' efforts serve as a reminder that we, too, are called to reflect God's image in our lives by demonstrating love, compassion, and sacrifice to those in need. We, too, may make a difference in the world by extending a helping hand and demonstrating God's love to those around us.
Turn with me for a moment to the beginning in Genesis Genesis 1:26-27
Genesis 1:26–27 (NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Mankind was created in the image of God. Mankind was the crowing aspect of the creation. The dictionary defines image as “exact likeness.”
I never knew my maternal grandfather. He died when my mom was a very little girl. My grandmother remarried and the man she married raised my mom as she was his own. After I became a teenager and into my young adulthood my grandmother said to me on several occasions that I looked just like my grandfather, meaning my maternal grandfather.
If I put a picture of my dad beside a picture of our Matthew when they were about the same age, it is hard to tell them apart. You might say they were “spitting images” of each other. One article that I read said that “spitting image” implies “perfect likeness.”
That is how humankind was created. God created mankind in perfect likeness. He also created us with a free-will, that ability to choose right and wrong.
It is important to grasp this foundational doctrine so that we can understand the redemption story that is written throughout the pages of the Bible. We were created in the likeness of God which is righteous and holy.
We know that when Eve and Adam ate of that fruit from the tree that God had told them not to eat from that the image was damaged and marred. Sin infected the nature of humanity and that first sinned is passed down to each succeeding generation.
Let’s keep that in mind as we look into this encounter with the Pharisee’s disciples.
15 Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words.
They were looking for a dilemma in order to trip Jesus up. They were going to use the issue of paying taxes to Caesar.
This was a dilemma because if he said no, paying taxes to Caesar is not permitted by the Law then he could be accused of mounting an insurrection against Rome. If he said that the Law permitted the paying of taxes then he could be accused of violating the Law of God.
Lawyers can be really good at creating these types of ethical dilemmas. It is like a lawyer asking a defendant if he has stopped beating his wife. He he says then he is admitting to the fact that he has beat his wife. If he says no, then he is admitting that he is continuing to beat his wife. The defendant has to look for a different way to answer the question besides a yes or no answer.
Peter wrote 1 Peter 2:13–17 “13 For the sake of the Lord submit to every human institution. Do this whether it means submitting to the emperor as supreme ruler, 14 or to governors as those sent by the emperor. They are sent to punish those doing evil and to praise those doing good. 15 Submit to them because it’s God’s will that by doing good you will silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Do this as God’s slaves, and yet also as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respectful fear of God. Honor the emperor.”
We live in a time of great vitriol in politics. The harshness and caustic criticism that we witness is horrendous. The Bible says to “Honor the emperor.” It says we are to pray for those who are in leadership. I was taught growing up and in my 20 years in the Air Force that you might not agree with what a leader says or does, but you honor the office that the person is in. Whether it was a commander or an NCO or the President, you honored the possession that they held. I’ve seen some flags in people’s yards scattered around the county that say “F” Biden. I suspect that there are people who would say they are “christian” would agree with that sentiment.
That is not honoring to God because His word says to Honor the emperor. It matter’s not what political party we associate with. What matter’s is are we honoring God by how we live our life and the actions and words we say.
These Pharisee’s decided how they were going to trap Jesus. Jesus, being God recognizes where this is coming from. Matthew writes there in verse 18
18 Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
A hypocrite is someone who professes to be godly but in reality is not. The Pharisee’s were trying to trip up Jesus. He knew their motive. They weren’t looking for some positive teaching from the Law. They were looking for a way to discredit him.
Rather than taking that bait, Jesus turns the tables on them. He asks them to bring him a coin that is used to pay taxes with. Jesus asks
20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked.
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Just like today, coins back then had images on them of the leader or ruler or some important person. In this case, the coin that was acceptable to pay your taxes with was the coin that had Caesar’s image on it.
That coin that they showed to Jesus had the image of Caesar on it. It belong to Caesar. That coin bears the image and authority of Caesar over all of the Roman Empire.
The lesson is made crystal clear in the interaction in which Jesus asks, "Whose image and inscription is this?" and receives the instant and direct response, "Caesar's," which makes it clear as day what the lesson is. The seeming simplicity of their response, on the other hand, conceals multiple levels of meaning that are both literal and symbolic. On the surface, it recognizes the physical properties of the coin and credits it to Caesar, the ruler of Rome at the time. It is a symbol of the realm of the secular world, the authority of the government, and the responsibilities that come with being a citizen in a society that requires a kind of currency.
However, the response goes considerably further into detail. The fact that Caesar's likeness is depicted on the coin indicates that it rightfully belongs to him and the sphere of influence in the world that he embodies. In a society where coins were more than simply currency but also served as symbols of imperial authority and control, the denarius featured an imprint of Caesar's image and the claim of his divinity. This was because the denarius was a symbol of imperial power.
During this debate, Jesus cleverly establishes a connection between the material manifestation of Caesar's authority and the idea of a "image," which extends to a higher spiritual plane. It serves as a reminder that our ultimate loyalty and allegiance belong to a higher power, which is God, even though we may render to Caesar the things that bear his image. The physical picture on the coin may be of Caesar, but as humans made in God's image, we owe our life, our love, and our loyalty to our Creator. This key moment in the chapter encapsulates the delicate balance between civic responsibilities and our everlasting duty to give to God what is God's - ourselves, reflecting His image in all that we do. This moment also encapsulates the delicate balance between civic responsibilities and our eternal duty to give to God what is God's.
During this exchange, Jesus invites us to ponder this question: "What does it mean to bear the image of God?" In the same way that Caesar's likeness and power were depicted on the coin, the divine image of our Creator is imprinted on each and every one of us. This fact is not merely a religious concept; rather, it is an essential component of who we are as a people. It highlights the inherent value and worth of every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic rank, ethnicity, or origin. It is important to note that this value and worth exists independently of the individual's context. In the same way that the picture on the coin symbolized Caesar's sovereignty over cash, the fact that we bear the image of God demonstrates that He is the ultimate authority in our life and that we owe Him both moral and spiritual obligations. This goes beyond simple recognition; it requires a shift in the way that we perceive both ourselves and the world around us.
Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote:
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience."
As we explore the connection between the image on the coin and the fact that we carry the image of God within us, we are brought back to our primary obligation of serving our Creator. The coin was designed for use in the domain of commerce and trade, much as we live in a society where we are expected to fulfill earthly and civic responsibilities. On the other hand, Jesus' remark encourages us to negotiate the challenges of this life while maintaining a strong sense of our spiritual identity. In our day-to-day lives, we are to mirror the image of God by demonstrating His love, compassion, justice, and grace. In essence, our deeds, relationships, and decisions ought to carry the image of God so as to serve as a constant reminder that our primary allegiance is to God.
This passage serves as a constant reminder of our holy obligation to offer to God what is rightfully His in a society where allegiances frequently clash and values are put to the test. It should be decided that we belong to the one who created us based on bearing the image of God, just as the picture on the coin determines who owned it. When we've gained an understanding of the ramifications of this fact, we are able to find a profound sense of purpose and direction in our lives. It encourages us to act with love, justice, and compassion, bringing our actions into alignment with the ideals and principles of the One in whose image we are created.
The concept that humans should reflect the image of God is central to the teachings of Christian theology. Our relationship with God can become strained at any point in our life due to a number of different circumstances, including sin, doubt, and suffering. The good news of the Gospel, on the other hand, is that because of the sacrifice of Christ and the mercy of God, we have been given the opportunity to restore that divine image. This restoration is not about building a flawless facade; rather, it is about transforming our character, attitudes, and deeds to match God's traits so that they are in line with who God is.
The journey toward restoring the image of God is not an immediate metamorphosis but rather a process that takes time. It demands an open and honest review of our life, a willingness to acknowledge our failings, and a humbling submission to the grace of God. This process is analogous to a sculptor painstakingly removing flaws from a slab of marble in order to expose a wonderful masterpiece that was concealed within the stone. We are able to peel away the layers of sin and self-centeredness via Christ, which will allow us to reveal the image of God that has been hidden from us. This restoration does not make our past faults disappear; rather, it redeems them by allowing those mistakes to shape us into individuals who are more compassionate, loving, and Christ-like.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18
18 All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The restoration of God's image in our lives also invites us to be ambassadors of reconciliation and hope. We are called to show others the same love and grace that God has shown us in order for them to experience the same transformation that we have. Our very lives ought to become a moving testimony to the strength of the transformational work that God does, inspiring those in our immediate surroundings to look for God's transformative touch. We can show what it means to bear the image of God and embody the hope that is found in the redeemed love of Christ by the acts that we do and the way that we choose to think and feel about things.
Think about an artist who spent years meticulously crafting a beautiful stained-glass window for a small, humble church. Over time, however, the church was neglected, and the window became covered in grime and dirt. Its original brilliance was obscured, and the chapel's interior darkened. Yet, despite the years of neglect, the potential for the window to shine once again was always present. It just needed the hand of a restorer, someone who could see the beauty beneath the layers of dirt and imperfections.
In the same way, God is the divine restorer. He sees the inherent beauty within each of us, even when our lives are marred by the stains of sin and the wear and tear of life's challenges. Through Christ, God offers to cleanse and restore our souls, wiping away the dirt of our past and renewing us. He is the master artist who can make our lives, like that stained-glass window, radiate with the beauty of His image. That story illustrates the powerful message of restoration that Christ offers to us, and it encourages us to turn to God for guidance and transformation.
The idea of restoring the image of God is not simply an academic theological concept; rather, it has significant ramifications for how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis. It is a call to self-reflection, repentance, and a deepening connection with God through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. This is a call to action. Throughout the course of our walk of faith, we frequently wrestle with sins, doubts, and the burdens of suffering, all of which have the potential to obscure the reflection of God's image that is found in us. However, God, through His love and the activity of the Holy Spirit, never gives up on us. Just as an artist will not give up on a damaged canvas but will instead labor painstakingly to restore its beauty, God will never give up on us.
The process of restoration extends an invitation to every one of us to be actively engaged in the journey of our faith. It is imperative that we pursue God on a consistent basis through prayer and meditation, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our thoughts, words, and deeds. The Holy Spirit molds our hearts in much the same way that a potter molds a ball of clay into a vessel, guiding us toward deeper love, compassion, and holiness along the way. As we yield to His mission, we begin to reflect the divine image more and more, carrying the mercy and compassion of God into a world that is in urgent need of His light. Our lives, like masterpieces that have been restored by the hand of God, become beacons of hope and transformation for others, reminding them of the amazing power of God's love that can bring about redemption.
As Christians, we are not called to isolate ourselves from the world within the walls of our church communities. Instead, we are given the responsibility of engaging with the world while fully aware of our civic responsibilities. We, too, are called to navigate the complexity of a diverse and often hard world, just as Jesus did with the Pharisees and Herodians. This means getting involved in our communities, working hard at our jobs, and contributing to the advancement of society.
However, our engagement with the world should always be guided by our higher allegiance to God. It serves as a continual reminder that, while we pay Caesar's taxes and perform our civic duties, our ultimate loyalty is to God. God's image in us is like a thread that should weave through every facet of our existence in the magnificent tapestry of life. Our faith should not be segmented and limited to a few hours on Sunday. It should be an active component of who we are, impacting our decisions, interactions, and priorities.
This delicate balance, where faith meets the secular world, can be difficult to achieve. To live out our faith genuinely, we need intelligence, discernment, and dedication. But it is in this tension that the beauty of Christ ermerges. It is the place where the light of God's truth shines the brightest. By reflecting God's image in our daily lives, we become beacons of hope, love, and grace in a world that is often marked by darkness and division. We have the privilege and the calling to reflect God's image in every decision, contact, and responsibility, delivering a glimpse of His character and love to those we encounter.