And to God...the things that are God's.

Everything belongs to God.
Surrender to God your life, make GOD your top priority and place all your Hope in Him.
Matthew 22:15–22 and Mark 12:13–17 and Luke 20:20–26 

The questioners were Pharisees and Herodian’s. They sent to Jesus their spies, since they themselves were suspected by Him. The questioners believed that the spies might succeed more easily in getting a response. 

The questioners expected a negative answer which would place Jesus, in a difficult situation with the Roman governor. They expected that Jesus would oppose the tax. Their purpose was to trap Jesus. Luke 20:20-"to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor".

The governor was Pilate and he was the man responsible for collecting the taxes. The spies flattered Jesus by praising His doctrine and His love of truth. By their flattery they hoped to force Jesus into a decision. They asked Him whether or not it is right for Jews to pay the taxes demanded by Caesar. "Should we pay them, or should we not?" Mark 12:15 or “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Matthew 22:17 

If Jesus said, ‘Pay the taxes,’ then the Jews who refused to accept the domination of Rome will reject Jesus. And if Jesus says, ‘Don't pay the taxes,’ then Jesus would be in trouble with the authorities. 

Jesus calls the spies, hypocrites and then asks one of them to hand a Roman coin. Their producing the coin implies their use and acceptance of it. Jesus looks at the coin and asks whose head and inscription are on it. They take Jesus’ question as a sign of His ignorance and they answer sincerely, Caesar’s. They provide our Lord with the answer to their question and Jesus responds: 
"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:21.

The people who had the coins were only using what belonged to Caesar until Caesar said to give them back in taxes. 

Many of the Jews refused to pay the taxes, imposed on them. They would not cooperate with the Roman authorities, represented by Caesar.  In the words of Jesus, paying taxes to the Roman emperor would be an earthly duty. 

When Jesus was responding to the spies, He was reminding them that the coin belonged to God. For the Jewish people, everything belonged to God. Jesus reminds us, we belong to God. Everything is God's.  

We live in a world, where there is absolute poverty. Everyone has a right to a full, human life and not everybody gets it. It is a world full of injustice. The people who suffer, they know that there is nothing they can do, but bear the consequences. 

The Reign of God, implies that there is justice for everybody, equality for all, there is love, peace and joy. We must reach out to the poor, the outcasts, those who are rejected in our society. 

The Gospel, It is the Power of God, His Spirit speaking to us and guiding us in every aspect of our lives. Scripture is clear that only Divine authority is absolute. 

The questioners were impressed. Matthew 22:22 states that they "marvelled"; unable to trap Him any further and being satisfied with the answer, they went away. 

A surrender implies that one is obedient to God. 

A rule is laid down with an intent that it must be followed. We are to be obedient to the people that God has placed in our lives and in positions. 

We are in troubled times, a time of uncertainty. Let us remember, we are not here by accident. Our sinful nature has brought this about. 
Let us remember, to be truly repentant.
Let us also remember that this is God’s Universe and we have to surrender everything to God. 
Give back to God everything, our lives, our relationships and our all. 

And all the time remembering that GOD IS IN CHARGE!