This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks will take you to additional translations or collections/discussions of other scriptures addressing related principles. The entire chapter is included to provide context.
Information about the meaning of the original Greek of italicized words is provided in blue beneath each reading.
Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Text in green tells us about something God wants us to do.
Text in red describes what God tells us not to do.
Reading 1
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (7b) Give the Lord glory and honor.
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Worship the LORD, in holy attire; tremble before him, all the earth; say among the nations: The LORD is king, he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Reading 2
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel
The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”
They replied, “Caesar’s.”
At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Repay = ἀποδίδωμι = apodidōmi
to give back or up; to restore, return, render what is due, to pay, give an account; to pay, to make payment; to give back, or in full; restore, return;to yield;to pay off, discharge what is due; to requite, recompense; perform; to put away by giving, to give up, give over
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
give up or back, restore, return; render what is due, pay, as debts, penalties, submission, honour, etc.; assign, refer to; render, yield; concede, allow, suffer or allow; deliver over, give up; give an account or definition of a thing, explain it
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One way to render to both God and government is to pray for those in government. Indeed, we are commanded to do so. See Praying for Leaders: Why, How & About What
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What these readings tell us about God & His ways:
I have called you by your name
though you knew me not
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
there is none besides me
I am the LORD, there is no other.
great is the LORD and highly to be praised
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
all the gods of the nations are things of nought
the LORD made the heavens.
the glory due his name
tremble before him, all the earth
The LORD is king
he governs the peoples with equity
grace to you and peace.
you were chosen
For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction
you are a truthful man
you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth
you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status
What these readings tell us to do:
Give the Lord glory and honor
Sing to the LORD
sing to the LORD
Tell his glory
Give the Lord glory and honor
Give the Lord glory and honor
Give to the LORD
give to the LORD glory and praise
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
Worship the LORD, in holy attire
tremble before him
say among the nations: The LORD is king, he governs the peoples with equity.
give thanks to God always
remembering you in our prayers
your work of faith
labor of love
endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ
Shine like lights in the world
hold on to the word of life
repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God
What these readings tell us not to do:
Testing me
