Matthew 22:21c Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

It is easier to see that which is Caesar’s is it not? Caesar’s things have Caesar’s image upon them. Caesar has a large army of loyal followers to collect what is due Caesar. Caesar is rather noisy about what he wants.

What are the things of God? I don’t hear God making any loud bold demands about what He is due. His voice is but a gentle whisper. I have to be very very still to hear Him. Even then His grace is so overwhelming that the favor given far exceeds any request made. What is His?

John3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Wait, if all things are His already, how can I give Him anything? He already has all things? This takes us back to Caesar and the tribute and the rendering. Caesar is His, the tribute is His and the rendering of things to Caesar is meaningless except to Caesar. Caesar is the one who cares about the tribute. God doesn’t need your tribute, it is already His. So what does God want?

Numbers 18:9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of their’s, every meat offering of their’s, and every sin offering of their’s, and every trespass offering of their’s which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

That which is rendered unto God is most holy. It isn’t about the tribute, it is all about the rendering. Whenever we think about Matthew 22:21 we think about the tribute because the Pharisees were asking about the tribute. Jesus turned the conversation to the rendering but the dull of ears did not hear that, their minds and hearts were set on the tribute.

Sacrifice was seen as an act of devotion to God. If they could give of the best they had to offer, it was seen as loving God more than loving things. Given that this rendering is an act of devotion, then exactly what do we render to God that which is not already His?

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt render unto the Lord thy God all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy mind, and all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (HCV)