Render to Caesar What???

Jesus confirmed the principle of voluntary taxation when he was confronted by the Jews.

They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" "Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. (Luke20:20-26).

This incident has caused a lot of confusion. The usual interpretation is that Caesar’s image and name on the coin proves that he owns all coins, so they must be given back to him if he asks for them. This is economic nonsense. An image on a coin or banknote proves nothing. New Zealand five dollar notes have a picture of Sir Edmund Hilary, the first person to climb Mount Everest. To suggest that he owns every five dollar note would be absurd. The coin that Jesus looked at belonged to the person who had given it, unless it was stolen, and then it belonged to the person it was stolen from. It did not belong to Caesar.

Jesus was telling the people to pay to Caesar what they owed him. Caesar had provided them with a service by minting coins. Having a coinage that was accepted throughout the world was a benefit for those engaged in trade, so they owed him something for that service. Rome may have provided roads that were beneficial to Jewish communities. Maybe Caesar also provided some justice services (I am not sure how much), so they owed him something for that. Caesar had not protected them, so they owed him nothing for defence.

By way of contrast, everything does belong to God, so we must submit everything to him. Jesus had taught the people over and over again that all authority belongs to his Father God. Even the Son of God must submit to his authority. Since all authority belongs to God, we must submit to God in everything him. Caesar must submit to God in the same way as ordinary people. Caesar must give to God, everything that belongs to him.

A political power (emperor or parliament) cannot be above God in anything.