“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” That’s what Jesus said in verse 17. So, every election day, we American Christians should recognize that we do indeed have two allegiances, two sets of responsibilities.

We are citizens of our respective states and of the United States. We therefore have both the right and the responsibility to participate in the choice of those who will serve as our legislators and administrators. And once they’ve been chosen, we have a responsibility to honor their decisions and follow the laws they have made on our behalf – even paying the taxes that support the government. That’s what we owe to Caesar.

But Jesus also makes it clear that we have another, even higher allegiance – to God Himself. So if we should pay our taxes to Caesar, how much more should we support the work of the Kingdom of God with our time our talent and our treasure, whether we give them to the congregations of which we are members, or to other organizations doing the work of evangelism, missions, and charity? And if we are obligated to obey the laws our human governments have made, how much more should we seek to obey God’s perfect Law of Love for Him and for one another in everything we feel and think and say and do (12:29-31)?

So, what happens if one of Caesar’s laws comes into conflict with God’s Law? Here’s where things get sticky – we must obey God above all else, even if that means accepting the consequences of breaking Caesar’s law. That’s why Martin Luther King, Jr., went into that jail in Birmingham, Alabama, where he penned his famous letter challenging the Church to be more faithful to Christ. And that’s why the Lord Jesus surrendered to the religious leaders and even submitted Himself to crucifixion at the hands of Pontius Pilate, so that even those Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross might be forgiven (Luke 23:24).

For the way of Christ never leads individual Christians to riot or rebellion, regardless of how unjust any human laws may be – after all, Jesus said, “all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Instead, we are always called to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), even when they use the power of government to harm us or others. No matter who sits on Caesar’s throne, we are called to walk the way of the cross, for that’s the only way we can render to Christ what is His due.

Mark 12:13-17 (NASB)

13 And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him, in order to trap Him in a statement.
14 And they came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?
15 “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”
16 And they brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.