MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 22:21 render to Caesar... and to God. Jesus is not establishing a political kingdom in opposition to Caesar. His followers should pay taxes and obey civil laws. There are matters that belong to the realm of civil government and matters that belong to God’s realm. Jesus does not specify which matters belong in which realm. Many Christians today teach that, in general, civil government should allow freedom in matters of religious doctrine, worship, and beliefs about God, and the church should not try to use the power of government to enforce allegiance to any specific religious viewpoint.

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