“Give to Caesar” What Jesus Really Meant

When Jesus said,

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21),

He was speaking under the Law, before the Cross, to Israel still under covenant with Moses.

The Pharisees and Herodians were trying to trap Jesus.
If He said “Don’t pay taxes,” Rome would call Him a rebel.
If He said “Do pay taxes,” the Jews would accuse Him of betraying God.
So Jesus exposed their hypocrisy.
He wasn’t giving a new law for Christians He was revealing how the Law and the kingdoms of this world still ruled Israel at that time.

But after the Cross, everything changed.
Jesus fulfilled the Law, abolished it in His flesh (Ephesians 2:15), and delivered us from the kingdoms of this world.
We are no longer citizens of this fallen system we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20).

✝️ Under Grace, Not Under Caesar

Under grace, God doesn’t govern us through external laws, taxes, or rulers.
We are governed by Christ within us the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2).
Caesar represents the world system law, performance, debt, and demand.
But we died with Christ to all of that.

Romans 6:14 says:

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

That means we are not under Caesar’s dominion either.
The world runs on control, trade, and punishment
but the Kingdom of God runs on grace, inheritance, and freedom.

When Jesus said “Give to Caesar,” He was speaking to people still bound to this world.
But you the believer in Christ are not of this world (John 17:16).
You belong to a different realm, one where the King has no taxes, no bondage, and no law of demand only grace freely given.

So, “Give to Caesar” was never meant as a timeless rule for the Church.
It was spoken before the Law was nailed to the Cross.
Now, you owe Caesar nothing, because you’re dead to the system he rules.
You belong fully to Christ.