Matthew 22: 15-22 - "Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them,“Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,and to God what is God’s.”
I understand the imperial tax of the time, how they were again trying to trick Jesus but His answer is so much deeper than just what they heard. "Give back to God that which is God's." When God created man, He did so in His "image and likeness," His image was and is on us. Give Caesar his coin but give God your life, give yourself to Him. If you don't really know whose image is on you (in you) you will give yourself to worthless things that can neither fulfill nor sustain true life.
We know the difference between George Washington and Ben Franklin, $1 or $100. If you don't see the right image than you wont see the value. When we don't see ourselves through His eyes we will allow the world and the enemy to spend us like a dollar but when the image is right we can look at the world, enemy and every temptations and boldly declare, "you can't afford me."
This is also a call to true worship, giving it all, all of you back to the one who loves you and created you. Worth and worship are closely connected.
"So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,and to God what is God’s"
