Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
We see in the above focus that the Pharisees were devious in their attempt to undermine Jesus’ influence with the people. Jesus was gathering a great throng of people around him. He had attacked the Jewish elite directly, calling them hypocrites, snakes, people with scheming purposes. The Pharisees wanted to keep their position of preference in the Jewish society. Jesus and his teachings were a threat to their position of power within the community. They were seeing Jesus’ power grow among the people; the people acclaimed him as a man with godlike authority; He performed miracles and healings that no man had done from the beginning of time. If Jesus’ popularity was not diminished, how could they hold spiritual control over the people? To them, Jesus was a rogue operating outside of the appropriate religious structure in the Jewish community. He attacked the hierarchy, failing to defer to their position as spiritual leaders. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. In today’s verses, we see the Pharisees bringing with them the Herodians to trap Jesus with his own words. The Herodians followed Herod, who was a tool of Rome, so his followers paid homage to the Roman rule. If Jesus would say anything that was detrimental to the Roman’s authority in Jerusalem, his words would quickly reach Herod’s ears and then Caesar’s ears, causing Jesus’ imprisonment or death. The Jewish leaders would then be free from Jesus’ threat to their leadership role in the community. They would also benefit by the Romans taking care of Jesus and not them; for Jesus was very popular with the people; He was almost untouchable. Therefore, when they asked their question, Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? they were hoping Jesus would fall into the trap of offending Herod’s position of power, and subsequently Roman’s authority over the Jewish nation. But Jesus avoids this trap deftly by asking to see a coin used for the payment of the tax. Show me the coin used for paying the tax. The Roman coins were imprinted on one side with the image of of Caesar. Rather than telling them a definitive answer of whether Rome should be ruler of the Jewish people, He states a matter of fact under the present condition. So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. By answering this way, Jesus evades the trap, upsetting neither the Jewish people nor the Roman authorities. The people wanted Rome gone, but the people knew Jesus had to handle this matter delicately. The Jewish elite wanted an answer that they could repeat to the authorities that would indict him as a rebel, but Jesus escapes their trap with his wise response. These Pharisees were dangerous hypocrites, vipers along his journey, lying in wait, to destroy his influence with the people. They wanted him dead; if they could identify Jesus as a revolutionary, Rome would take care of him. But his answer stopped the mouths of the hypocrites: He had given them no ammunition to use against him. They left him and went away.
Jesus had become a man of the people. Right after the above test, the Sadducees come to Jesus with another question about marriage, but when Jesus answers it wisely, the Bible says, When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (Matthew 22:33) The people not only found him a wise man, they held high hopes of Jesus throwing off the secular power of Rome in their land. Caesar’s tax was a symbol of the weakness of Israel. This subjugation to Rome was detested by the Jews. Consequently, there were many revolutionaries in Israel, operating clandestinely to overthrow the Roman rule. When the people clamored for Barabbas to be released by Pilate, the Roman governor; they were asking for a revolutionary to be released. Jesus, the one they had put their hopes in to overthrow Rome, had failed them miserably. They cried for Barabbas’ freedom because at least he would continue aggressively fighting the Romans. Their shouts for Barabbas made the Roman governor exceedingly angry; therefore, he ordered Jesus to be beaten with a lead-tipped whip, slashing his back to pieces. If they wanted a revolutionary released, then he would brutalize Jesus and put a sign on him that he, this emaciated, brutalized man, was their king, ridiculing the Jewish people by displaying Rome’s power over a weak Jewish man. Jesus, who became the crucified one, was not in the business of gaining power in this world. He did not struggle with the elite over political or hierarchal power. He chose fishermen, tax collectors, and people of little power to be in his inner circle: his confidants. He also chose a revolutionary, Simon the Zealot. The Zealots were militant, against the Roman occupation and also against any Jewish people who were helping the Romans rule. For Simon, this question directed at Jesus about taxes was probably very important, more so than to the other disciples. Which way would Jesus jump? Favoring the Romans or the people? We do not know if Jesus’ answer disappointed him, but we do know Jesus was not going to be subjected to the Jewish elite. He had come to give the Good News to the Jewish people. He was the Messiah who would release all people from the authority of the devil. The destination of eternal souls was in question, not whether a certain people would rule or not. He came to give life to all people. They were now living in darkness, in hopelessness, living temporary, finite lives on earth, physically disappearing into dust eventually, with no hope for eternal life. As sure as the Romans ruled Israel, they were ruled by death and darkness, with no possible escape from a life of senseless captivity. But Jesus came to reveal that the God of Creation wanted their souls to be with him forever. He came to give his life for people, not to win the world for himself or for the Jewish nation. Jesus was not out to gain the world—He was out to win souls for God’s family.
Of course, winning the world is very attractive to men, much more important than looking forward to an eternal existence. The proverb a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush means the things we currently have are worth more than what we might have a chance of getting. Why not eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die. Let us live for today. But Jesus came to give eternal life to all who would place their trust in him. His life was fixed on that purpose, not to make life better for humans in this world. He told his disciples they would have many troubles in this world, which they did. Paul describes some of his hardships in 2 Corinthian 6. People who ministered with Paul also shared many of the hardships that fell upon him. Jesus was not there to pay allegiance to Rome or to the leaders of the Jewish people. He was there to do the will of the Father: to bring people into his kingdom, his dwelling place. But taxes and money are indicators of where people’s hearts are, so this question put to him by the Pharisees was important to those who were listening. Should they continue their loyalty to Rome by giving Caesar his taxes or should they rebel, following their leader, Jesus. Jesus knew their hearts; He probably disappointed many in the crowd, not just the deceptive Pharisees. Taxes were an issue because fewer taxes meant more money in their coffers, more security, more self-worth. But Jesus had already talked about money issues. Dependence on wealth, revolving your life on gain is an unhealthy way to live. In fact, it can be considered darkness, for living only for money distorts the reason for living: to bring glory to God the Creator. The latter is a healthy reason to be alive; but the former, fixated on money, is great darkness—a broad way to destruction. The eye (what is important in your life) is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:22-24) In Jesus’ answer about taxes, He was reenforcing the idea that life should not be about taxes or money; life should revolve about serving God. Yes, life has perfunctory duties, obligations to those who rule, daily routines to serve those around us and society. Life has a more extensive and real reason: serving the eternal God. Jesus said, give to him what is owed to him. Of course, what is owed to him is our very lives, breath, heartbeat, hands, and feet. Every part of us is his creation. Therefore, we should love him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Our lives should be dedicated to him. If taxes are owed, we should pay them; if obligations need to be met, we should fulfill them. But do not let anything take hold of our lives. The Zealots wanted to be free of Rome; the Herodians wanted to maintain their position of power. The struggle between the Herodians (Caesar’s people) and the Zealots would end up in a horrible war, decimating the Jewish nation. Jesus did not walk unknowingly into this trap set for him by worldly people. His purpose for everything He did or taught was for a permanent victory, bringing the chosen to his Father, holy, without one fault. He came to save people from destruction. He came to redeem. He came to deliver to God his Father a people that would be called God’s children. He brought righteousness to unrighteous, holiness to the unholy. Jesus’s answer about taxes is a lesson for us today. Let us Christians keep in focus our purpose for living. Let us strive to articulate the reason for Christ coming to earth. Let us display light, bringing the light of Jesus to every man and woman we meet. The real message is not taxes, who rules or who does not, but that JESUS SAVES.
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