Render to Caesar

Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor?

I don’t know how much tax you pay - but I know I pay quite a lot.

And then - at the end of the tax year when I give SARS some reasons to give some back to me… I feel guilty and worried I’ve made a mistake somewhere.

Taxes - in my opinion are not a bad thing.

I’m happy to pay them.

If - once they’re in the hands of the government - they are used for good things.

Building roads. Schools. Giving relief to the hungry. Keeping us safe with police and all those other measures that they ought to be used for.

Making sure we all have electricity.

Decent railway lines and safe travel...

But - I don’t want to depress you today...

When they are funnelled into corrupt activities. When my X Thousand a month doesn’t seem to be able to pay for proper toilets in schools.

Or when my X Thousand a month pays for 5 Star Accomodations, Lavish Red Carpet Parties and Blue Light Brigades.

I become a little bit pessimistic.

Well - in South African law it is lawful to pay taxes. And you better be honest about it.

But what was the deal at the time of Jesus?

Who was he talking to?

To understand what Jesus is saying it is important to understand who he was talking to.

Matthew 22:15–16 (NRSV)

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians...

Jesus had been saying some difficult things

This question about taxes comes after Jesus has told

the parable of the two sons, (one that did what he ought to do and one that didn’t).‌

the parable of the wicked tenants (Who killed the owners slaves and then son.)

the parable of the wedding feast (People ignored the invitation and eventually all the riff-raff were invited in.)

All of these parables pointed to a revolution. The idea of God taking the leading citizens out of their positions and replacing them with other - more worthy candidates.

Threat?

This was a great threat to the Pharisees, Herodians - and all of those who were in power in Jerusalem.

Jesus had come marching into Jerusalem with a crowd of people who claimed that he - Jesus - was the Son of David. The Messiah.

They were outsiders.

They were not happy with the state of things - they came to protest.

We don’t know what to do when faced with protesters. We’re seldom a part of that crowd.

Protesters closed the N7. Protesters closed the N2. Avoid Baden Powell Drive due to Protest Action.

We live in the suburbs. Like the Pharisees, Tax Collectors, Herodians… the status quo is working well for us.

Jesus came to Jerusalem.

With a crowd he had collected on his tour of Galilee.

He was likely to cause some trouble.

We’ve heard a few times what the Pharisees and Chief Priests were up to...

Matthew 21:45–46 NRSV

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

This time it was the Pharisees (or their disciples) and the Herodians.

They didn’t necessarily get along - but faced with a common enemy (Jesus) they could work together.

Pharisees tended to be nationalistic. They would have liked the idea of an independent Israel in C1. But they wouldn’t say it out loud.

Herodians were loyal to King Herod - and King Herod ruled by appointment of Caesar. Or in fact - Herod’s rule was limited because Caesar had put Pilate in charge - as governor.

Herodians would like to be rid of Caesar - but knew their power depended on him.

Pharisees would like to be rid of Caesar - but knew their livelihood depended on him.

Conclusion

Pharisees and Herodians were nervous of what Jesus was up to. He brought a crowd from outside Jerusalem.

This crowd could be raised up to overthrow the powers that be in Jerusalem.

But there would be terrible bloodshed.

Question?

So they ask Jesus a trick question...

Matthew 22:17 NRSV

17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

And they give some ‘context’ for the terms on which they expect Jesus to answer the question:

Matthew 22:16 (NRSV)

16b “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.

They want an honest answer.

And - they want to butter him up good and proper first...

Really get him to think they’re on his side… You’re so clever - and handsome - and sincere - and wonderful and is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor.

Three possible answers:

No, taxes should be paid to Herod.

Yes, taxes should be paid to the Emperor.

No, the Kingdom of God is here.

In terms of the history of the Jewish people - at first the only tithes were paid to the temple.

Later - when they established the monarchy - taxes were taken to maintain the King and his armies.

But now - in the New Testament there were two ways that taxes were paid -

The one way - was directly to Herod.

The other was - was on to the emperor.

Jesus’ Response?

Matthew 22:18–19 (NRSV)

18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.

Jesus points out their faults and then answers their question.

Faults

1 - Aware of their malice

One thing I notice about Jesus - and about God - is complete disdain for insincerity. The word is hypocrite.

You have your church face.

You have your holy words.

But you’re rotten on the inside.

Like a white washed tomb.

Jesus sees us for who we are.

2 - Sincere

Just now when they were buttering him up - they said he was ‘sincere, true - showing no partiality.’ So Jesus is sincere when he calls them hypocrites.

The word for test - ‘why are you putting me to the test’ is the same as that used when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness.

The same as that used for the time of trial in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus is exposing his inquisitors for who they are.

Answer

Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees and the Herodians is quite smart - he avoids the answers they were looking for.

One answer would disappoint those who had come with him - marching in on Palm Sunday - his group of disciples who were now occupying an area of the temple.

Although the people of the city might have been happy with Rome’s ‘Status Quo’ - the outsiders were deeply unhappy. Many of them saw Jesus as coming to overthrow Caesar.

If Jesus had said:

“You should pay taxes to Caesar!” (Disappoint Followers)

Then his followers would have abandoned him immediately. They came following him because they thought he was the prophet to take down the corrupt and abusive monarchy.

It took them until he was on the cross for them to run away. Only for some of them to return when his resurrection meant that there was something more to him.

“You mustn’t pay taxes to Caesar!” (Immediate Arrest)

With the Pharisees hope of getting rid of Jesus - their best bet - was to get him convicted by the Romans. And if he had said that people shouldn’t pay taxes he would have given them grounds to have him arrested.

He could have been held up for treason.

Jesus’ third - and wise answer:

1 - Show me the Coin

Jesus, the Herodians, the Pharisees, his crowd of followers are sitting within the temple precinct.

A Holy Place.

We know very well that the Old Testament commanded:

Exodus 20:4 NRSV

4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

It is one thing to have a ‘graven image’ somewhere in Jerusalem - away from the temple.

But to have one right there - on the Temple Mount - even in the court of the gentiles would be scandalous.

And so - when the coin was presented.

They could read the inscription:

Tiberius Caesar Divi Augusti Filius Augustus.

Translation: Tiberius Caesar, son of divine Augustus, emperor (Augustus).

They were getting mad with Jesus - because Jesus claimed to be a ‘Son of God’ - meanwhile the coins in their pockets were graven images claiming that Caesar Augusts was Lord and Tiberius was his son.

In this we learn two things...

One - that the term: “Son of God” was a political term - and is not just a Theological term.

But we also learn that people like Augustus and Tiberias claimed godly status for themselves.

2 - Whose head is this?

Jesus doesn’t just give them a lesson - he makes sure that they have to have a good look at the coin - read the writing on it - acknowledge it for what it is.

Matthew 22:20–21 (NRSV)

20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21 They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

So often I hear people quoting Jesus’ “Render to Caesar” as a good reason to pay taxes.

And just as Caesar wanted a religion that suited him to control the people; so have those who gave us religion in South Africa wanted a religion that kept us obedient.

Look again at this temple precinct.

In the top right hand corner we have the Antonia Fortress.

Rome’s peace was an uneasy peace.

Many didn’t believe that Herod had a right to be King - but he was a puppet King.

And the High Priest at the time of Jesus - was appointed by Rome - not only were they appointed by Rome - but they could only access the high priestly robes etc. from the fortress Antonia.

With this back drop - Jesus words:

“Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Is not all about paying your taxes.

It is a very tricky invitation to overthrow the government of the day.

Only God should control the temple - but Rome is controlling it by controlling the high priest.

And what if everyone took Jesus literally - give this back to Caesar.

Imagine - cart loads of coins being dumped in frontn of the emperor’s palace - and teh emperor getting all ecvited because he is so rich.

But it turns out - no one wants that money any more.

There is even more to it...

to God the things that are God’s.

Is a reminder of what images represent.

Way back in Genesis 3:21

Genesis 1:27 NRSV

27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

in Mt 22:20 - Jesus asked:

Matthew 22:20 NRSV

20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?”

Whose head is this?

in Greek - whose eikon is this.

In the Greek form of the Old Testament:

The Old Testament in Greek according to the Septuagint (Chapter 1)

καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον, κατʼ εἰκόνα θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτόν· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς.

Whose eikon is this?

Whose eikons are these?

Who are these people?

Who are you?

Matthew 22:22 NRSV

22 When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Thoughts

Jesus sees through pretence.

Matthew 22:18 NRSV

18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?

It is a bit of a relief. You don’t have to pretend to be what you’re not for Jesus - he is not fooled.

He knows how much faith you don’t have.

He knows how awful you can be.

The God of Truth hates what is false.

Jesus invites us to think about what matters most.

To the emperor that which is the emperors.

Could we take our cash and abandon it?

In order to give ourselves to God?