A sermon by Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitchell Hay.

Gospel Lesson Matthew 22:15-22 The Inclusive Bible

Then the Pharisees went off and began to plot how they might trap Jesus by his speech. They sent their disciples to Jesus, accompanied by sympathizers of Herod, who said, "Teacher, we know you're honest and teach God's way sincerely. You court no one's favor and don't act out of respect for important people. Give us your opinion, then, in this case. Is it lawful to pay tax to the Roman emperor, or not?"

Jesus recognized their bad faith and said to them, "Why are you trying to trick me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin which is used to pay the tax." When they handed Jesus a small Roman coin called a denarius, Jesus asked them, "Whose head is this, and whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied.

At that Jesus said to them,"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's."

When they heard this, they were astonished and went away.