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