Render to Cesar What is Cesar'....

Sadly, there appears to be confusion within evangelical circles regarding the current legislation in the Colorado House of Representatives SB25-183, regarding taxpayer funded abortions and if Christians should comply. When people quote Matthew 22:21, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” they often use it out of context to justify blind compliance—even when the government is pushing laws or policies that directly violate the Word of God.

The following outlines the biblical perspective:

1. Understand the Context of Matthew 22:21
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 22:15–22 was a response to a trap. The Pharisees and Herodians were trying to get Jesus to either:

• Offend the Roman authorities by speaking against taxes, or
• Offend the Jewish people by appearing to support the oppressive Roman occupation.

Jesus asked for a denarius—a Roman coin—and asked whose image was on it. “Caesar’s,” they said. Then He said: “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” — Matthew 22:21

Jesus wasn’t endorsing everything Rome did. He was making a distinction between what belongs to human authority and what belongs to God. We owe taxes for civil order, but we owe ultimate allegiance to God.

2. The Higher Authority is Always God
When human laws conflict with God’s commandments, Scripture is crystal clear:
“We must obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29

Peter and the apostles were told by religious authorities to stop preaching in Jesus’ name. Their response wasn’t disrespectful—but it was firm. God’s authority supersedes all earthly rulers.

This principle is seen repeatedly throughout Scripture:

• Daniel refused to obey the king’s command to stop praying (Daniel 6).
• The Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1 disobeyed Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew babies.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image (Daniel 3).

3. Romans 13: Misused, Not Misunderstood
People also quote Romans 13:1-7, which speaks about submitting to governing authorities. But that passage doesn’t mean unquestioned obedience to every law, especially when:

• The government becomes a terror to good works, not to evil (v.3).
• The government punishes righteousness and rewards wickedness.

Romans 13 assumes the government is functioning within God’s design—as a servant of God for good. When that role is corrupted, believers have a biblical right—and obligation—to resist in godly ways.

4. Regarding Taxes and Abortion Funding
So, what if Caesar demands your money to fund the killing of innocent children?
Abortion is not a political issue—it’s a moral and biblical one.

“You shall not murder.” — Exodus 20:13
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” — Jeremiah 1:5
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” — Proverbs 24:11

Giving tax money to a government that uses it to kill babies clearly violates God’s moral law.
Now, most of us can’t opt out of the tax system, but we are commanded by God to be both salt and light. We are commanded to stand in the gap and defend the weak against injustices. Therefore, we can resist in these ways:

• Publicly oppose and speak truth - love (Ephesians 5:11)
• Vote righteously and stand for godly legislation
• Support alternatives that promote life (pregnancy centers, adoption, etc.)
• Appeal laws and make use of legal exemptions when possible
• Pray and intercede for national repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14)

How to Respond Biblically
So if someone says: “Didn’t Jesus say to give to Caesar?”

You can respond like this:
“Yes, Jesus did say to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar—but He also said to render to God what is God’s. Life belongs to God, not Caesar. I will submit to governing authorities so long as they don’t ask me to sin. But when they use my money to fund the killing of innocent babies or mutilate the human body in an attempt to distort God's design of male and female, they have overstepped their God-given authority, and I will resist in every legal, biblical, and godly way—because I must obey God rather than man.”