“… then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21
R is for render. To render means to give or, more specifically, to give back something in return. What is the first verse that comes to your mind when you hear the word render? Was it Matthew 22:21? If it was, I would not be surprised. It is a verse that has been quoted often enough for us to easily remember it.
But, do we truly understand what this verse is teaching us? In context, it is speaking of money … and taxes in particular … that is due (owed) to Caesar (the government). God has ordained the government and there are going to be things in life that we will have to render to them, and let us not forget that there are things that we must also render to God.
But, looking beyond the context, what principles can be found here for our everyday life … life where it meets the road? It is very easy to slip into the mode where life is dictated by the flesh, but Romans 8: 12 tells us that “… we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.”
Our flesh is a deadly evil … and what does our flesh like to do best? It likes to render evil for evil, does it not? I mean, let us be honest here. Does your flesh like to retaliate or strike back at someone who has hurt you, or wronged you, or humiliated you, or slandered your name? I know that mine does.
If we are responding in the power of the flesh, then, yes, we will try to get even or try to return hurt for hurt. But, Romans 8:13 tells us that “… if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” So, if we want life and health, what are we to do? We are to daily mortify [subdue; deaden] the flesh. This is not always the easy road … but, yet, God requires us to live after the Spirit.
There are people in my life who have hurt me with words, who have hurt me with actions, who have slandered my name, who have told lies about me, who have misjudged me, who do not speak to me, etc. I am positive that you have a list as long or longer, do you not? If I were to share this with the average Christian, their response could very easily be “Cut them out of your life. They do not deserve …” But, it really is not about what a person deserves, but what is due them.
The Bible plainly tells us that what is due them is NOT evil for evil. So, when we are tempted to do evil toward another, what are we to do instead? I am glad that you asked because the Bible gives us instruction on that as well! I am to love unconditionally (Matthew 5:44). I am to answer quietly (Proverbs 15:1). I am to use words that are fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11). I am to pray for them (Luke 6:28).
Lesson Objective: To understand what it means to render. To acknowledge areas in your life where you are rendering evil for evil and to correct those areas by mortifying the flesh and living after the Spirit of God.
Did you pass or did you fail?