Contents
Introduction
Are God and the government in opposition? The Jewish authorities were determined to eliminate Jesus. Since their other attempts failed, they have now resorted to setting traps for him. They wanted Jesus to be the cause of his own downfall and condemnation. The Herodians were political groups. The Pharisees sending them and their own disciples to Jesus was an attempt to get Jesus entrapped in political matters. At the conclusion of the parable of the king who organized a wedding banquet for his son (Matt 22:1–14), Jesus says, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt 22:14). Matthew continues his narration and notes that “the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said” (Matt 22:15). What did Jesus say? Jesus has said so many things in and through his interesting parables. Without doubt, the Jewish authority knew those parables referred to them.
Unmasking the enemy
The way the Pharisees and the Herodians put their question to Jesus shows various ways one could employ to confuse and convince his or her opponent and make the person say or affirm what he or she, in normal circumstances, would not have said or affirmed. The reinforcement of the question “should we give or pay the tax or should we not?” ‘indicates that this is no mere theoretical inquiry but a pressing practical issue’ that requires an immediate answer. Had Jesus not discovered the trick of his interlocutors, then he would have involved himself in a political tussle that does not concern him. The plan of the Pharisees and the Herodians was to get Jesus into trouble either with the Jewish people or with the Roman authority. That is, if he had answered “yes, taxes should be paid to Caesar”, then he would have lost favour and credibility with the tax-burdened people. On the other hand, if he had answered “It was wrong for the Jewish people to pay taxes to the Roman government”, then he would have been accused of insurrection. The question was formulated in such a way that answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would have landed Jesus in serious trouble. This is exactly what the Jewish authority expected. They knew it was wrong to answer yes or no, yet they wanted Jesus to implicate himself. Unfortunately for them, Jesus unmasked their evil plan. Although they were experts in the Scripture, due to their evil intents, they forgot that God has armed Jesus so that all may know, from the rising of the sun to its setting, that apart from God, all is nothing (cf. First Reading).
Conclusion
The subject of taxes was a burning issue in the days of Jesus, due to the domineering Roman Empire. In response to a foolish question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus invites his followers to honour and respect God and the government. Christians should realize they hold dual citizenship in the kingdom of God and in the country to which they pledge allegiance. Hence, they must keep this truth in balance and always live in a way that honours God. While Jesus invites Christians to pay or give tax to Caesar, the government, he also invites Caesar, the government, to pay back or return what it owes to God. To God, the government owes worship, respect, obedience, submission, total allegiance, faithfulness, and adoration. Every government must return or pay these back to God. As the psalmist says, they must give the Lord glory and power because they belong to him alone. They must sing and worship the Lord (cf. Ps 95).
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