“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” That’s what Jesus said in Matthew 22:21, and on this 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 over the next few years. 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 (Matthew 22:37-39)?

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 even 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 to render to Christ what is His due.

Matthew 22:15-22 (NASB)

15 Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said.
16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
17 “Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
19 “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 And hearing this, they marveled, and leaving Him, they went away.