Daily Devotionals

The Lydian Lion is considered by many to be the oldest coin in the world. It was minted in Lydia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), out of a gold and silver alloy about 2,700 years ago (600 B.C.). The Lydian bears the head of a roaring lion. It only has a design on one side due to the primitive methods of stamping out coins when it was made.

There is some debate about whether it was a coin used for monetary exchange or simply a badge or ceremonial object used by priests in a temple. Roman currency was used during the time of Jesus. The first Roman denarius was minted in 211 B.C. It was a small silver coin and one of the most common in circulation.

Jesus once used one of these coins to teach a lesson. Spies had been trying to trick Christ into making a statement that would get Him into trouble with the Roman authorities. “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Luke 20:22). He was Jesus’ wise response. “‘Why do you test me? Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?’ They answered and said, ‘Caesar’s.’ And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’” (vs. 23–25).

Christ could not be cornered. Jesus turned the spies’ trap into a sermon on supporting our ruling government. Of course, there is a limit to our allegiance to man’s laws. Our first allegiance is to God’s law. When the two laws conflict, we must honor God’s reign above all else. Unfortunately the Jewish nation did not first render obedience to God, and this led them to be subject to a foreign power represented by the insignia and image of the common denarius.

Key Bible Texts

And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace. (Luke 20:26 KJV)