Matthew 22: 18-21 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
The Pharisees wanted to get Jesus in trouble with the Roman authorities by getting Him to rebel by refusing to pay government taxes, so they asked Jesus’s thoughts on it. Jesus saw their deceit
and trap, but did not just smartly evade by saying something He does not believe in, but did say what He believes to be true.
In ancient days, there was the Bata system, where people exchanged goods or services to get what they wanted. Later, they used coins of gold and silver used as currency; these had seals on them, for they were measured in weight. Over time, the seals became more important than the metal (gold or silver), which gave birth to the currency we use today.
During the time of Jesus, a penny was a silver coin measured in weight (thus it carried a Roman seal) but valued by the number of donkeys it bought (thus their size reduced over time).
The ultimate use of money is to get the provisions or things we want. By itself, money is useless if not used. So when a person has few needs, for that person, money is of little importance. Man craves money because he cannot control his desires, his wants. The power of money is so great on man that they try to use it to buy off God, His favour.
Yesterday, I noticed parts of some scriptures that had not caught my attention to date regarding taking gifts. The words ‘gifts’ in them did not mean an offering, but meant a bribe. We need to discern the intention with which people gift us.
Money has the power to buy one’s loyalty and destroy one’s character. Money is not evil, but when we do not understand its purpose and use it well, then it does become evil and controls us, destroying our spiritual connection.
We do not need to be a popper to be a good Christian, but that does not mean all who have wealth are bad. It is true the first does not know God, and the latter is misusing God. Ironically the first has better chances to go to Heaven than the latter.
We as Christians are called to be sufficient in our needs and give the extra we get to those struggling. And for those who are rich, we are called to pray that they understand the danger they are in.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You, Lord, created all things. Gold and silver are like dust unto You. Trying to bribe You with them is like giving dust of the earth to please You. You, Lord, look for spiritual gifts, thus value a circumcised heart more than all the gold or silver we can give. We pray we understand the purpose of natural things and use them wisely, not getting devoured by them…
This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
2 Chronicles 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do [it]: for [there is] no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts
Proverbs 29:4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Ezekiel 20:26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD.
Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Dated 17 Feb 2026
Bro Rollwyn