May the mumbling commence!
How do you feel when you are paying the taxman? Many of us feel unwanted obligation and reluctance. Paying taxes often inspires thoughts of rebellion. Rebellion over taxes is nothing new. It did not start with the T.E.A. Party (Taxed Enough Already). It didn’t start with the original Tea Party during the American Revolution.
Rebellion and taxes comes far before these things. Rebellion and taxes were old hat when Jesus walked the earth. Indeed they were a ploy to bring him down. The Jewish religious leadership tried to trap Jesus in his words so that we might run afoul of the Roman government. Read a passage from Luke chapter twenty:
Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. (Verses 20-26)
The questioners thought that they had Jesus cornered. No matter what Jesus might say, he would alienate himself. If Jesus were to claim that Jews were not to pay the taxes, then he would be subject to Roman law. Rome would take care of this thorn in their side, for they would be sure to report such an answer to the Roman authorities.
On the other hand, if Jesus were to state that Jews were to pay taxes, Jesus would run afoul of the Jewish people who deeply resented Rome’s presence. Jesus would lose a large part of his followers with this statement. Jesus would be defused just as well this way.
But Jesus easily defused this potential bomb. Jesus asked to see a denarius. It is worth note that these religious leaders had a denarius at all. The defiling image of Caesar would wrong to carry. This mode of money was not acceptable in the Temple. Jesus publically showed their duplicity.
What images are on our money, here in the United States? Former presidents and important people from our country’s history grace our bills and coins. Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.” “Give unto the President what is the President’s.” Money is not ours. It belongs to the government. They printed it. They determine its value. None of it has any real worth in God’s kingdom. So do not cling to money.
That was the first part of Jesus’ answer. This answer alone would have done well in keeping Jesus safe from Roman authorities. The second part of the answer would satisfy his rebellion-minded followers. “Give to God what is God’s.” Indeed, what do we have that is not God’s? We owe God everything that we have. We owe God our ultimate allegiance. There is no one or nothing that deserves our very best.
Jesus answered the question in truth without endangering his mission from God – obedience and allegiance.
Help us, O God, to live this statement. To give our government its due – but not at the expense of our ultimate allegiance to the Lord who created us.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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