Jesus and Politics

I don’t usually discuss or write about politics. However, in today’s climate, I want to just share a thought for all of us to consider as we think about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the Western world today. Let’s consider the following passage for a moment:

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)

A Trap Turned into Truth

The Pharisees and the Herodians came to Jesus with a trap disguised as a question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?” They thought they could force Jesus into a political corner. If He said yes, He’d alienate the Jews who hated Roman oppression. If He said no, He’d be accused of rebellion against Rome.

But Jesus, with divine wisdom, cut straight through the political gamesmanship: “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

This wasn’t a clever dodge — it was a declaration of priorities. Jesus was reminding everyone that, while there are things that belong to earthly governments, there are far greater things that belong to God.

Jesus Didn’t Come to Build a Political Kingdom

When the crowds tried to make Jesus king by force, He withdrew to be alone with His Father (John 6:15). Jesus didn’t come to establish a political kingdom, nor did He come to destroy earthly government.

He came to redeem hearts, not reform systems.

Yes, we should pay taxes and obey civil laws (Romans 13 makes that clear), and there are matters that belong to the realm of government. But there are other things — more eternal ones — that belong to God alone.

The coin bore Caesar’s image, so it belonged to Caesar.

You, however, bear God’s image. And that means you belong entirely to Him.

When Politics Divide the People of God

God didn’t create political parties — people did. And while governments have their place, they can easily become idols when we give them more devotion than we give to God.

How can we claim to love one another if we hate someone over their political views? Paul pleaded with the Corinthians:

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Paul wasn’t saying we’ll never disagree. He was saying that our unity in Christ must rise above our disagreements — even the political ones.

Jesus didn’t call His disciples to uniformity; He called them to unity.

Think about it: in His inner circle, Jesus brought together people who couldn’t have been more politically opposite. Matthew was a tax collector who worked for Rome. Simon the Zealot belonged to a movement that wanted to overthrow Rome. Yet Jesus brought them to the same table, called them both to follow Him, and made them brothers in the kingdom of God.

If Jesus could unite the subjugated and the subjugators, how can we justify dividing from one another over party lines?

Politics Can’t Save Us

Having the “right” political opinions won’t get you to heaven — only Jesus will.

Every political party is inherently sinful because every one of them is filled with sinful people. We deceive ourselves if we think one party is somehow “less sinful” than another. Is greed less offensive to God than abortion? Is pride more tolerable than injustice? Sin is sin.

The issues we wrestle with as a nation cannot be solved by politics. We’ve been trying that for centuries. The government cannot heal the human heart — only Jesus can.

We have one Savior, and it isn’t the government, the president, or the political party we lean toward.

The Danger of Mixing Church and State

History tells a sobering story: when the church becomes too closely aligned with the state, the church almost always ends up compromised. The mission of the Gospel gets entangled with the agendas of power, and the result is spiritual corruption.

Jesus didn’t come to claim a throne in Rome — He came to claim the throne of our hearts.

A Final Question

So let me ask you: do people know you more by your political views, or by your love for God?

If our passion for politics outshines our love for Jesus, then we’ve given to Caesar what belongs only to God.

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.

But give your heart, your mind, your allegiance, and your love to the One whose image you bear: Jesus Christ.