Audie wrote:Why do you suppose he made a point of showing whose face was on the coin?
The coin was not in Caesars pocket, but, it was his; of him, from him, owed him, to be returned to him.
Do you disagree with the concept that he was saying that the holy land, the temple etc belong to God?
If they did, then they cannot be "given' to Him, but, only returned.
So if Jesus was making a balanced statement, using the same word, he meant return.
Actually, you have it backwards. You are right in looking for balance, but you are going the wrong way.
First, it is important to see that they were talking about a "tax" or "tribute." Taxes and tributes are that which is
owed. By showing them the image, Jesus isn't making any claims on Caesar owing any coins. He is saying that the Jews owe Caesar the money; it is "his," and his image illustrates that. By the same taken, mankind is the image of God. Jesus' real interest is in whether or not the Jews are paying God what they owe HIM. And what they know Him is a lot bigger than anything having to do with the Temple. It goes to the Shema: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone!" (my translation) They owe God their very selves.
And that's where the balance piece you raise is important. The Jews aren't being asked to "return" something to God that is theirs. They are being told to
pay God what they owe Him. They were not doing so. As such, Caesar's face is just an object lesson for the Jews' faithlessness.