We are citizens of two kingdoms

“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 (Read 22:15-22)

As Christians, should we pay taxes and render obedience to civil governments? After all, we are citizens of God’s kingdom through faith in Christ Jesus. We are only sojourners in this world and look forward to our eternal home in heaven. And our government has become corrupt – protecting and promoting abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, gambling and other sinful practices.

In Jesus’ day, the Roman government too was viewed as evil, as an enemy and oppressor of the Jewish nation and people. It stood in the way of the theocracy for which the people longed. And, it protected and promoted much that was evil and sinful, including widespread sexual perversion, sodomy and infanticide.

Much like our day, there were those who profited from Roman rule by collecting taxes and working with the Romans, and there were those who rebelled against Roman rule at every opportunity by waging attacks on Roman soldiers or rulers. And there were those in between who didn’t like Roman rule but accepted it as a fact of life allowed or ordained by God.

This prompted the question posed to Jesus by the Pharisees and Herodians: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” That question was, of course, an attempt to entrap Jesus in His own words because Jesus, if he were to say yes, could be accused of supporting the Roman rule and fall out of favor with the Jews, and if he were to say no, could be accused of promoting insurrection against the Romans and be subject to arrest and possibly even execution.

Jesus’ answer not only foiled their plans to entrap Him; it teaches us our duty today in regard to God and civil government. He asked them to show Him a coin – a coin used by the Jewish people for trade on a regular basis – and asked whose image and inscription was on it. It was, of course, the image and inscription of Caesar. And He responded: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

As Christians, we are a part of two kingdoms. By birth or naturalization, we are a part of an earthly kingdom or nation and under the authority of civil governments (cf. Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Daniel 2:44-45); and by our rebirth of water and the Spirit (John 3:5; 18:36; 19:11; Titus 3:4-7; Galatians 3:26-29; Revelation 11:15), we are members of Christ’s eternal kingdom and under the rule of Christ and His Word. As Christians, our first allegiance is to God and His Word, but we are still to obey civil governments and rulers as long as we can do so without disobedience to God (Acts 5:29; Daniel 3 and 6).

And Jesus’ words also provide the basis for the Biblical doctrine of the two kingdoms and their proper spheres or roles. The church, using the Word of God, is to proclaim Christ Jesus and salvation through faith in Him (cf. Romans 1:16-17; 10:17). The state, using the power of the sword, is to punish evildoers and preserve civil righteousness and peace in this world (cf. Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Churches, when operating within their

proper sphere, no longer use the power of the sword to force upon people religious beliefs and practices. States or civil governments, when operating within their proper sphere, no longer tell churches what they may or may not teach or how they must carry out their mission and work in this world.

So, how do we live as Christians in this world and what are our duties? First of all, we seek to spread the kingdom of God through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word and not through legislation or the power of the sword. Secondly, while living in this world, we submit to the rule and authority of civil governments, paying taxes and giving honor to whom honor is due and praying for our rulers that we might “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1ff.).

And, if we have failed in our duties to God or country? Repentance! In fact, a failure to repent could not only make us subject to punishment from civil authorities but from God Himself (cf. Romans 13:5). It could threaten our place in God’s eternal kingdom. We, therefore, acknowledge and confess our sins to the Lord God and look to Him for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, our Redeemer. And, we then seek to “render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Forgive us, O God, for failing to honor You above all and also to obey those You have placed over us. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.