Guide for Sunday, October 18, 2026

Our reading for today describes one of the best trick (or trap) questions the religious authorities present to Jesus. They’ve done it before—remember their question to Jesus concerning the woman caught in adultery? But here, as before, Jesus won’t take the bait. Instead, he redefines the conversation to reveal important things about our relationship with God. Let’s have a look. 

• In first century Judaism, to catch a teacher in a serious error in interpreting Scripture or tradition would effectively end his influence. What about the question put to Jesus sets a trap to discredit him? Can you decipher how Jesus’ opponents hope he’ll respond? What’s behind their desire to discredit him in the first place? 

• How does Jesus evade the trap set for him? What does he do instead of give an answer? What effect does this have on the ones seeking his downfall? 

• What do you think Jesus means when he says to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar? What legitimately belongs to the government nowadays? How does this affect being in the world but not of the world? 

Next Step: God’s ‘things’ are not always the government’s ‘things.’ Our challenge is to keep our relationships to God, the government and our neighbor in ways that honor God’s reigning presence in our lives. In what ways might you do this?