Whose image and inscription?”

And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:20–21

The question had been asked of Jesus whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not. It was a trick question, one whose answer was surely to offend someone. Christ in His eternal wisdom answered correctly, and made a profound point for all ages.

The image and inscription of Caesar was stamped upon the currency of Rome, claiming its origin, clear for all to see.

Upon the human soul, however, a different image and inscription are stamped — the image of God. Sin has marred this image but it is still visible if we will look for it. And just as the image of Caesar announced to all the world to whom the coin belonged, so the image of God upon us has also announced to whom we belong.

The word translated “render” means “to give up, to give over” — abgeben in German — and describes the act of worship of the believer — to surrender our souls into the hands of God for Him to use as He sees fit. This is the every nature of worship, and describes the attitude of surrender of heart and life.

But the analogy goes even further. Rome had minted coins for the good of Rome, for the expansion of her influence and for the effectiveness of her governance. And God has placed His image within human life for similar reasons — for the expansion of His kingdom and the effectiveness of His lordship.

He expands His kingdom not by brute force, but by the gentle and authoritative call of His Spirit into our hearts to believe and to follow Christ. He is Lord — the One to whom all power and authority belongs — yet He calls us in love and tenderness to believe and to follow.

the psalmist wrote, “My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word … I run in the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119:28,32). When we seek to go our way we find our soul burdened, the heaviness of sin and selfishness, of an entirely worldly attitude unbearably heavy. But when we surrender to Him and to His ways, we find new strength to run and serve and move in His Spirit. This is the whole duty of man — to surrender to Him and to live in the reality of His will.

Whose inscription and image are upon your soul? Then render your soul to Him and live in Him, and you will find rest for your soul.