The Saviour knew just what answer would meet the exigencies of the case. He gave no advantage to either the Roman or Jewish power. His answer to the intriguing Jews, “Render unto God the things which are God’s,” was a severe rebuke to them. Had they answered the claims of God and faithfully fulfilled their obligations to him, they would not have become a broken nation, subject to a foreign power. No Roman ensign would have waved over Jerusalem, no Roman sentinel would have stood at her gates, no Roman governor ruled within her walls. The Jewish nation was then paying the penalty of its apostasy from God. {3SP 43.2}

Frelseren vidste, hvad der var bedst at svare i ethvert tilfælde. Han foretrak hverken romerne eller jøderne. Hans svar til de underfundige jøder: Giv "Gud, hvad Guds er!" var en streng irettesættelse for dem. Dersom de havde imødekommet Guds krav og opfyldt sine (44) pligter mod ham med troskab, så ville de ikke have været et svagt folk, som var under en fremmed magts herredømme! Ingen romersk fane ville have vajet over Jerusalem; ingen romersk vagt ville have stået ved dets porte, ingen romersk landshøvding havde hersket indenfor dets mure. Det jødiske folk måtte bære straffen for sit frafald fra Gud.