VHR. 19—26. ST. LUKE. G63
butfaith. BEDE. Render alsoto God the things which he
God's,that is to say,tithes,firstfruits,offerings,and sacri
fices.THEOPHYL. And observethat He said not,give,hut
return. For it is a debt. Thy prince protectsthee from
enemies,renders thy lifetranquil. Surely then thou art
bound to pay him tribute. Nay, thisvery piece of money
whichthou bringestthou hast from him. Return then to
theking the king'smoney. God alsohas given thee under
standingand reason,make then a return of these to Him,
thatthou mayest not be compared to the beasts,but in all
thingsmayest walk wisely. AMBROSE. Be unwillingthen,
iithou wouldest not offendCaesar,to possessworldlygoods.
And thou rightlyteachest,firstto render the things which
be Caesar's.For no one can be the Lord's-unlesshe has first
renouncedthe world. Oh most gallingchain! To promise
to God, and pay not. Far greateris the contractof faith
thanthatof money.
ORIGEN. Now thisplace containsa mystery. For there
aretwo images in man, one which he receivedfrom God,
asitiswritten,Let us make mem in our own image : anotherGen.1,26.
from the enemy, which he has contractedthrough disobe
dienceand sin,alluredand won by the enticingbaitsof
theprinceof thisworld. For as the penny has the image
ofthe emperor of the world,so he who does the works of
thepower of darkness,bearsthe image of Him whose works
he doth. He says then,Render unto Ctesarthethingswhich
be Casar's,that is,cast away the earthlyimage, that ye
may be able,by puttingon the heavenly image, to render
unto God the thingswhich be God's,namely, to love God.
Which things Moses says God requiresof us. But God Deut.
makes thisdemand of us,not because He has need thatwe '
shouldgive Him any thing,but that,when we have given,
He might grant us thisvery same giftforour salvation.
BEDE. Now they who ought ratherto have believedsuch
greatwisdom, marvelledthatin alltheircunning they had
foundno opportunityof catchingHim. As it follows,And
theycouldnot take hold of His words beforethepeople: and
theymarvelledat His answer,and held theirpeace. THEO
PHYL. This was theirmain object,to rebuke Him before