today's other readings are Tobit 2: 9-14 and 3:1; and Psalm 112
Two common phrases come to mind for today's passage:
1) the two things in life you cannot avoid are death and taxes; and
2) Between a rock and a hard place.
Taxes are the topic the Pharisees and Herodians try to bring up. Even then, people paid taxes. But in the case of the Jewish people, it ground them to their core that taxes were going to their hated, oppressive Roman overlords. The Pharisees and Herodians are being deviously clever in their scenario they present to Jesus. For if He says, no, don't pay the taxes, they will report Him to the authorities. If He says, do pay, then the esteem He is held by the people will plummet. This scenario seemingly places Him between that rock and hard place.
But Jesus is more than a match for them. His response is based on a unique and pure logic. Give to the Emperor (also known as Caesar) what is the Emperor's, and to God what is God's.
We have a civic duty to pay taxes, whether we like it or not. So we do so. But with what do we "pay" God? A simple answer - our life, our love, our faith, and living all that out, day after day.