Quote 2

"To  grasp the ironic brilliance of Jesus' response, it's helpful to know that the Jews of this time were deeply offended by currency that bore the image of the emperor.  They saw it  not only as egotistical on the part of the emperor but also as a direct violation of the commandment against making images (Ex.20:4; Lev. 26:1).  Only God can make an image of himself, and he did so when he made humans. (Gen. 1:26-27).

"Jesus ingeniously linked the issue of pagan egotism and idolatry with the issue of paying taxes.  with a tinge of sarcasm (I imagine Jesus with a wry smily giving this illustration), Jesus was in essence saying, "You of course believe this coin is an egotistical and idolatrous offense to God.  So why should we who are God's people fight with each other over how much of THIS we should keep or give back to the egotistical, idol-making offenders?"  The thing people should rather be concerned with, Jesus is saying, is whether or not they are giving to God what bears HIS image and what therefore belongs wholly to him--namely, their very lives.  Indeed, Jesus was ironically suggesting that  an inappropriate preoccupation with what we should do with Caesar's image may reflect a heart that is insufficiently preoccupied with what should be done with God's image.  Even if someone comes up with the 'correct' position on paying taxes (is there one?), what good does it do her if she loses her soul (Mark 8:36)."