{"id":10974,"date":"2026-10-14T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=10974"},"modified":"2026-10-14T07:24:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T12:24:42","slug":"ocotber-18-2026-costly-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/ocotber-18-2026-costly-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Ocotber 18, 2026 – Costly Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prepare<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Today\u2019s text has us thinking about money, currency, values, and the cultural and economic systems in which we swim. It opens with the leaders again trying to ensnare Jesus with a question about paying taxes to the emperor. While this may seem straightforward on the surface, there are many underlying factors that complicate the story.<\/p>\n

First, remember that Israel at this time is a conquered people. They are controlled by Rome. Taxes help fund the very system in which they live, including the soldiers and others who control their lives. Refusing to pay taxes would support the Israelites\u2019 cause for freedom, but it would put Jesus in hot water with the authorities. Such a response could be considered treasonous.<\/p>\n

Second, consider the coin itself that they use in this world. Each coin is inscribed with the phrase \u201cSon of the Divinized Augustus,\u201d which can be interpreted as \u201cSon of a god.\u201d This inscription is blasphemous, and according to Jewish law, even possessing or using these coins is unlawful because they represent an idol to a false god.<\/p>\n

Costly Love<\/span><\/h6>\n

It would be easy to make this simply about money, but the question is much more complex. The people are part of an earthly kingdom, the Roman Empire, and they could no more escape this reality than they could escape breathing. It is simply the reality of being there: They must use these coins to pay their oppressors, and there is no escaping this reality.<\/p>\n

But Jesus is pointing us toward a different reign, the reign of God, which eclipses the culture in which we are immersed. This reign extends beyond the physical reality of where we live and points us toward another reality that trades in a very different kind of currency. Jesus reminds us that while we are part of the life and circumstances of our current situation, we are also part of another story, one that belongs to God. This is what Jesus is asking: What belongs to God, and what are we to give to God?<\/p>\n

Opening Activity: What Would This Buy?<\/h4>\n

Before the group meets, collect several different kinds of currency from your country. For example, if you are in the United States, find a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar bill, and so on. For added fun, you may also collect banknotes from different countries if they are available to you.<\/p>\n

Start by talking about the different kinds of coins and bills you have collected. Pass these around and ask the students to take a close look at each item.<\/p>\n