Pentecost 22

Are you a numismatic? If you are, you probably know what I am talking about. If you are not, you may not even know what a numismatic is. A numismatic is a coin collector. I don’t mean someone who puts their spare change in a glass jar and brings it to the bank once in a while to convert it to cash but someone who enjoys collecting rare coins and investigating the history behind them. I know of at least one of our members who is a numismatic and can share with you his collection and the history behind his coins.

Since coins are made out of metals that can last a long time, it should come as no surprise that there are still in existence coins dating way back to over 2500 years ago when coins first started being minted. Certainly, the type of coin that Jesus asked for in our text can still be found in collections today and if you are really lucky, perhaps even lying in the soil in parts of the ancient Roman empire although such finds are now very rare.

We know why coins are used. They are a from of money that is used to purchase items even though there are now much more common methods of payment which don’t even use physical money such as checks and electronic payments. And like emails and texts replacing physical letters, we are losing out on a piece of history. Physical coins do show history. How so? Producers of coins will often imprint images and words on the coin which depict something to be quite important. Perhaps the most famous inscription on US coins is the phrase “In God we Trust”. Images may include portraits of Presidents, states, or Lady Liberty. Ancient coins shed some light on what was important in the cultures in which they were minted and used.

Jesus uses this fact to make an important teaching point when he was being questioned by those who were opposed to him. His answer is classic and well known ever since.

Text and explanation.

What does it mean to “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s”? In Romans, St. Paul gives us a good explanation of this statement which is very instructive.

Romans 13:1–7 NIV

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Application: We may express this by serving our country in the armed forces, respecting those who do, paying our taxes in a timely manner according to the tax laws, obeying the laws, and encouraging others to do the same. We understand that if we don’t do so, we are subject to a variety of penalties from the verbal reprimand, the ticket, a fine, loss of privileges, jail, or in some cases our own lives in states that have the death penalty in force for heinous crimes. The people of Jesus’ day knew how strict the Roman government could be toward those who did not “give to Caesar what was Caesar’s.” Here Jesus supports the belief that citizen’s need to obey even if the government is not ideal. Ironically, even though Jesus clearly supported paying taxes, at his trial he was false accused of having taught the opposite which was a bald faced lie. (NIV)

1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”

But Jesus teaches that our allegiance as Christians is not limited to obeying the government. We also are subject of the great King, our God who reigns in heaven above. In an ideal world, these two would be in agreement with each other since St. Paul teaches that the governing authorities are empowered and established by God to be his servants on earth who act in his behalf. A perfect blend of God and government is known as a “theocracy” which literally means “God rules.” In such a system there would not ever be a conflict between what God commands and enforces and what the government commands and enforces. But this is hardly ever the case. It was not at the time of Jesus when the Jews were under two groups of leaders: The Roman government which controlled an empire and the Jewish leaders who controlled Israel. Jesus teaches to obey both as long as neither contradicts the other.

Elsewhere in the Bible we see that when the rules of God are being violated by local governments, “We must obey God rather than man.” In such cases those who chose to not follow the government will find themselves under pressure and perhaps even persecuted for their disobedience.

I want to continue by emphasizing how important it is to give to God what is God’s. Since Jesus taught this in reference to a coin, perhaps his audience couldn’t get beyond financial donations. Maybe Jesus was saying to be sure to sacrifice according to the laws and to make sure you gave your tithe (10 percent) in a timely manner. Certainly this was considered important by God or he would not have inspired Malachi to denounce the Jewish people for being so stingy in their offerings and accusing them of theft. (NIV)

6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

One must wonder what God thinks of those who refuse to give money to support their own church or who are so stingy when it comes to offerings. They are self-condemned.

But giving to God is more than making a charitable donation. St. Paul also comments on this when he urges all of us to give freely of ourselves in service to God. (NIV)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Conclusion