At first it seems Jesus’ enemies are asking a simple tax question?
Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
The Teacher isn’t fooled. He knows they don’t really care about his opinion. Ever been there?
“Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this?
"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Ok, simple enough. We should give Caesar his coin back because it belongs to him. His image is on it.
But the Teacher turns their tricky tax question into a lesson about God. He says we are to give to God what is God’s!
So what belongs to God’s?
Logically, wouldn’t it also be whatever has God’s image on it?
But that’s us! We are all made in the image of God?
The Teacher is saying we are to give ourselves to God! We belong to Him!
Then just one last question…
Owe any back taxes?
The Jews were looking for the return of an earthly King, who would sit on David's throne in Jerusalem, who would drive out the occupying armies and rule over the physical promised land once again... so why bring the Herodians? They were technically the "enemy."
ReplyDeleteThis was probablyone of the easier traps for Jesus to forsee - when the Pharisees walk up with the Herodians side by side.
Yet, again, Jesus would stymie them with his answer. They have no response.
How does He do that?
The Teacher has the answers.
Had the Pharisees understood that God wants our hearts more than monetary gifts or sacrifices, they wouldn't have asked the question.
I sometimes wonder, because I haven't completely given all of my heart to God, if I have questions or thoughts or twisted logic - in an attempt to try and get around an issue, that if I would simply look closer at the teacher, and give more of myself to Him, I would see clearly the answer.
Back taxes, or current ones?
All a man's ways seem right to him,
But the Lord weigh's the heart. Pr 21:2
Search me, O God, and know my Heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Ps 139:23-24