IMAGE AND SUPERSCRIPTION

     In the New Testament Jesus was asked a trick question by a lawyer trying to get Him to be tripped up by His own answer. The adversary thought that He would speak out against taxation or paying tribute to Caesar’s rule but He rather proved a critical prophetic point as follows: 

MATT 22:17 - Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? (The lawyer thought that Jesus would stumble over the law of a worldly ruler by breaking it by rejecting to pay to the Roman government that which paid tribute to the likeness, portrait or image of Caesar).

MATT 22:18 - But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (Jesus knew their pride, arrogance and evil deeds would cause them to attempt to break the law by forcing Him to be tempted by worldly ways regarding paying tribute or taxes to the Romans who allege to hold jurisdiction over God’s Kingdom (all of earth). They tried to tempt Him and thus were hypocrites or those who would betray God in order to condone worldly rulers with the power and authority alleged under a false law of the land).

MATT 22:19 - Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. (Jesus asked the lawyer and his allegedly legal constituents to show Him a Roman penny, coin or denarii which depicted the portrait or image of the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus at that time).

MATT 22:20 - And he saith unto them, Whose is this IMAGE and SUPERSCRIPTION? (The Greek word for image is SC#G1504 “eikon” (pronounced i-kone from which the English word icon originates) meaning from 1503 a likeness, that is, literally statue, profile, or figurative representation or resemblance. The Greek word for superscription is SC#G1923 “epigraphe” from G1924 an inscription or superscription. SC#G1924 “epigrapho” means to inscribe or write in, write over, or write thereon. The image or likeness of that which belonged to Caesar would thus imply that he was engraved or graven image that resembles his portrait. The word superscription would also insinuate that the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” could be implied or expressed as belong to the nation would mean that the currency, tribute ort money would thus belong to that nation using such an inscription to claim their authority over a particular land).

MATT 22:21 - They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (That which belongs to Caesar should be given to Caesar just as that which belongs to the Creator is thus called creation. The Holy Land where Jesus is sovereign as its Lord then would upon proof of title thusly would belong to Him. So, the image of Jehovah/Jeshua (see below) should constitute His possession rather than that of a foreign entity alleging to claim it as their possession. Also the superscription, or the handwriting on the wall when the fat lady (Mother Earth) sings, should belong then to the Lord God who created it as well. The ALPHA and OMEGA are such an inscription or the words written by or into the holy hills that proves that God is sovereign in the land He set forth as covenanted, promised and holy. Therefore we should render unto God that which is God’s and not allow alien government to rule in His stead).

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