From the great Michael Bird:

[Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ question] “is usually taken as an affirmation of two spheres of sovereignty, one belonging to the world of human government, and the other belonging to the sovereignty of God. Human governments should receive taxes from their citizens, while all those who bear God’s image owe God their worship and devotion. Countless sermons have pressed the theme of the necessity of Christians doing the right thing in paying taxes, even though their souls belong to God. It’s very neat, even quaint; however, I don’t think this is what the story is really about. It’s not a sincere question about taxes, it is about trying to Jesus into a trap, one that he avoids and then turns the tables on his opponents.”

Read the whole thing: https://michaelfbird.substack.com/p/what-render-to-caesar-really-means?r=ilx28&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web