Matthew 22:15-22 - Paying Tax To Caesar
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 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. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “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.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Reflection:
In the preceding passage the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by pitting him against the two ruling parties within their own religion. Today, the Pharisees joined with the Herodians, who worked to keep the Jews in good relationship with the Roman government through tax collection etc. They were hoping he might say not to pay taxes so as to incite the Roman authorities against him, because according to the Law they could kill no one. Cf John 18:31
Despite their schemes and plans, which the apostle Paul likens to the serpent who was at work from the beginning with schemes, Jesus sees right through them and calls them what they are "hypocrites". Brilliantly Jesus refers to the inscription on the coin, which pays homage to Caesar the ruler of the government. Remember Jesus says my kingdom is not of this world, or I would have fought to bring it in by force. Instead Jesus advises them to be obedient to the governing authorities, who have been given their temporal power by God. (See Romans 1) So once again. Jesus foils their plan and they leave only to plot another way to trap Jesus.
This passage and others are what prompted Luther to develop his "two kingdoms" doctrine. The Church is the head in the spiritual kingdom, governing through the authority Jesus has given us in Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 28:19-20. While we shouldn't be unaware of what happens in the world and need to realize our responsibilities as voting citizens, it is important to not get too caught up in the matters of the world. As Jesus said, "My kingdom is from another place." As believers who have been tasked with bringing the kingdom, here on earth as it is in heaven until Jesus returns, that is our "main thing".
Where is God calling you to bring in His kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. Again this doesn't mean we remove ourselves from the world, yet seek to be the salt and light within it. The only time we are called to resist the government is when the earthly rulers command us to do something against the will of God, as we see in the book of Acts when the disciples said, "we must serve God not man!" Acts 5:29
Jesus, help us to be good citizens in the land we reside. Help us to recognize the opportunities we have as a Church and as individuals to be an influence for your kingdom where we life. Amen.
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 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. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “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.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Reflection:
In the preceding passage the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by pitting him against the two ruling parties within their own religion. Today, the Pharisees joined with the Herodians, who worked to keep the Jews in good relationship with the Roman government through tax collection etc. They were hoping he might say not to pay taxes so as to incite the Roman authorities against him, because according to the Law they could kill no one. Cf John 18:31
Despite their schemes and plans, which the apostle Paul likens to the serpent who was at work from the beginning with schemes, Jesus sees right through them and calls them what they are "hypocrites". Brilliantly Jesus refers to the inscription on the coin, which pays homage to Caesar the ruler of the government. Remember Jesus says my kingdom is not of this world, or I would have fought to bring it in by force. Instead Jesus advises them to be obedient to the governing authorities, who have been given their temporal power by God. (See Romans 1) So once again. Jesus foils their plan and they leave only to plot another way to trap Jesus.
This passage and others are what prompted Luther to develop his "two kingdoms" doctrine. The Church is the head in the spiritual kingdom, governing through the authority Jesus has given us in Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 28:19-20. While we shouldn't be unaware of what happens in the world and need to realize our responsibilities as voting citizens, it is important to not get too caught up in the matters of the world. As Jesus said, "My kingdom is from another place." As believers who have been tasked with bringing the kingdom, here on earth as it is in heaven until Jesus returns, that is our "main thing".
Where is God calling you to bring in His kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. Again this doesn't mean we remove ourselves from the world, yet seek to be the salt and light within it. The only time we are called to resist the government is when the earthly rulers command us to do something against the will of God, as we see in the book of Acts when the disciples said, "we must serve God not man!" Acts 5:29
Jesus, help us to be good citizens in the land we reside. Help us to recognize the opportunities we have as a Church and as individuals to be an influence for your kingdom where we life. Amen.
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