Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for October 18-24, 2026
Whose Likeness Is This?
(Matthew 22:15-22)
In our Gospel reading for this weekend, we find a group of people asking Jesus a question. It’s a “gotcha” question. They want to trap Him. They ask him a seemingly innocent question—a simple “either-or” question—meant to get Jesus in trouble no matter how He responds: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar…or not?” Jesus’ reply? Another question! “Whose likeness and inscription are [on this coin]?” He asks. “Caesar’s,” comes the response. “Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus doesn’t place Himself within the boundaries of his opponents’ “either…or” question. Though “the things that are God’s” include “the things that are Caesar’s,” Jesus’ answer recognizes the claim of both kingdoms—earthly and heavenly, to one degree or another—on the citizens of the world.
2000 years later, the inscription, image, or likeness of earthly rulers still adorn our greenbacks and coinage. As I write this on the IRS deadline for all 2025 tax payments to the United States Treasury (October 15), I can well relate to the necessity of “rendering unto Caesar”! But what does it mean to “render…to God the things that are God’s”? The Psalmist writes, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Ps 24:1). If taxes are a burden I’d rather not pay, rendering to God what is rightfully God’s is a burden far beyond what I—or anyone else—could ever hope to render! All that we have…and all that we are…is God’s. Jesus’ answer to His opponents points to the debt far greater than they or anyone else listening to Jesus could repay: the debt caused by our own misdeeds and LACK of faithfulness.
Thanks be to God that God’s perfect image and likeness rested on One who would make the heavenly payment we could not. Jesus did just that, not with perishable things like silver and gold, not with money bearing the name of earthly rulers, but with His own precious blood—the sacrifice of the King of Heaven…the Son of God…for us! (1 Peter 1:18-19)! Our sins are forgiven. Our eternal debt has been paid. Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead has won an eternal inheritance for us! And now, as people created in the image and likeness of God which has been made new in Christ Jesus, we have opportunity to live out the results of that divine transaction for the human beings around us who have also been created in the divine image, like us.
Won’t you join us again this weekend as we celebrate the gift of debts paid and sins forgiven?
Peace and joy in Him!
Pastor Jonathan
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
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