Render Nothing to Caesar and Everything to God: The Treasonous Allegiance to the Kingdom of God

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I just heard Ron Johnson (R Wisconsin) on Russel Brand’s show at the RNC quote Jesus’ familiar riddle “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s” to justify government authority. Here’s why that is a problematic interpretation of that phrase. 

If we truly rendered to God everything that was God’s, what would be left for Caesar? If we gave to Caesar everything that was Caeser’s, what would be left for God?

It is well understood that Caesar believes everything belongs to him, not just the gold coins he imprints with his image. This means the interpretation “render to Caesar what is Caesar” has to mean worship Caesar completely and do whatever he says. In contrast God claims ownership of everything, especially the obedience of those made in his image.

I think the point Jesus was trying to make to the Pharisees is that they can’t keep straddling the fence between their idols of power (Caesar and those who have the power of the sword) and the living God, which is supported through scripture 

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

“‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts.” Haggaia 2:8

“Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.” 1 Chronicles 29:12

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. (eg. Caesar) Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (eg God) Matthew 10:28

 This means “render to God what is God” has to mean we are required to worship God alone and do whatever he says.

If Jesus had any respect at all for the authority of Caesar, Jesus could have simply said. “Yeah guys. A little bit of government is good so pay your taxes and obey Caesar. This ain’t hard.”That’s how government apologists interpret his riddle and historically state power understands the need to co-opt the blessings of prominent religious institutions to justify its power. While “Render to Caesar what is Caesar and render to God what is God’s” suggests a kind of duel allegiance, that’s not what this riddle means. Jesus spoke in a riddle to expose the hypocrisy of the crowd who could identify the image of Caesar on a Denarii (claim of ownership) while ignoring the image of God in man (claim of ownership). Jesus’ words still expose people’s idolatrous fear and worship of godless government instead of leaving the fear of the sword behind. 

Jesus would go on to clarify this point when he spoke of split alliances. He taught, 

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

He also said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”

That doesn’t leave much room for Caesar or man made government does it?

Is it any wonder why Caesar fed so many Christians to the lions in the first few centuries after the death of Christ?

Bottom line: You have to choose between your full worship of Caesar/Government leading to your slavery or worship of God/Reason leading to your liberty. If you are paying taxes, obey bad laws, and giving honor to those who presume the power of the sword, you are rendering to Caesar and denying God what is God’s. If you are a man made in the image of God and obey government laws instead of God’s law, you are not a man.

Therefore, the riddle “Render to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and to God what is God’s” means render nothing to Caeser and everything to God. Period.

Render to God what is God’s, which is the love of your whole heart, whole mind, and whole soul. 

Render nothing to Caesar or any government that competes with the Kingdom of God.

Only Christ is King. 
Obey Him alone.

Why did Jesus answer this way?

Jesus’ answer highlights the Pharisees worship of Caesar under the pretense of God worship. If anything is owed to Caesar, then nothing is owed to God. And if anything is owed to God, then nothing is owed to Caesar. This traps the Pharisees because if they render something to Caesar, they don’t render that thing to God (which is blasphemy). But if they don’t render the Caesar and worship God alone, that’s treason to the state. So are the Pharisees willing to worship God and be a traitor to Caesar (which will lead to further persecution) or will they denounce Caesar and worship God alone. Thats the beautiful brilliance of Jesus’ answer.



Note: Further discussion can be had for how we ought to love Caesar as a man made in the image of God and give honor to those who deserve it. This is a separate conversation that presumes the primacy of the Kingdom of God.

Doesn’t Paul tell us to obey governments in Romans 13? 

Here is my answer to this question. 

As children of God and citizens of Heaven, we aren’t called to be the means of justice in this world. We aren’t called to punish murderers or put thieves in jail. Those means only work by the law and the sword and we know that “the law is powerless to save” (Romans 8:3). 

What we are called to do is to be just and do good and that if we do these things, we should have no fear of the law or the sword. So while we don’t cut off Roman centurions ears (John 18:10-11), we do preach the gospel despite being told not to (Acts 4:19) and maybe have more than our ears cut off like Stephen in Acts 7:54-60). While we don’t build prisons for the thieves and murderers, we do commit ourselves to not being thieves and murderers ourselves. We don’t use laws or force to end the practice of fraudulent banking and monetary slavery. We do the one thing only true Christians can do. We take on without fear the punishment threatened by the sword for not paying taxes and not paying back loans. This is our saltiness (Matthew 5:13-16). And if we are wronged by each other, we don’t appeal to civil authorities to handle the disputes. Rather we obey Paul who said “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). Our calling is not to overthrow governments but to live our lives in such a way that proves that Christ is the only King we serve.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)














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