The PassionNäide

Ever felt forced to pick a side when neither felt right? That’s what the Pharisees were hoping to do to Jesus in trapping Him with a loaded question about taxes. It’s politics, pressure, and manipulation; a classic power play.

But Jesus sees through it in a second. He doesn’t avoid the question. He doesn’t fall for it either. Instead, He answers with holy wisdom that disarms everyone:

“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 (ESV)

Jesus wasn’t just being clever, He was modelling something we all need: how to live wisely in a broken system without compromising who we are. It would have been easy for Jesus to rage against Rome, to fight back, or to act in fear. But Jesus knew something deeper:

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord…” Proverbs 21:1 (ESV)

Caesar might be on the throne, but God is still in control. And in that truth, Jesus moves with confidence, not panic. He isn’t naive to corruption—he’s just not controlled by it.

You might feel caught in the tension of faith and culture. But Jesus shows us: You don’t have to play their game to walk in His truth. Give what you need to give. Pay the bill. File the form. Respect the system. But don’t let it define you. Your deepest allegiance is not to Caesar, but to God.

You can live wisely in a broken system without losing your Kingdom focus, because God is still in control of every throne!

Lord, give me the wisdom You showed when You stood in front of power. Help me live with courage and clarity in a complicated world. Keep me from being manipulated by pressure or fear. Teach me to honour what’s right, without compromising who I am in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today, ponder this: Are you trying to navigate life with wisdom but still feeling the pressure of the world’s systems? How can you give to the world what it asks for, without giving away what belongs only to God?