Pastor's sermon is based on the gospel reading. Jesus acknowledges that God's law allows what is imprinted with the emperor's image to be given back to him, but he also insists that it be done in the ultimately more important context of giving what is imprinted with God's image back to God. In the very first chapter of Genesis, in verses 26 and 27, it tells us: “You and I were created in God's image.” Jesus calls us to return to God all that we are and all that we’ve been given. Yes, we can give the emperor his coins, but that's the extent of what he is owed. There is, however, no limit on what is due to God, since everyone and everything is God's. Amen!
