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 poll-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.
Matthew 22:15-22 NIVUK
We find ourselves in unprecedented times. No other generation has exited a global pandemic, after losing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, and then immediately been thrown into a situation when instability caused by war is starving the vulnerable.
Yet we know from history that times of great poverty and struggle are when unsavoury politicians and leaders come to the fore. They are not above blaming other people or races for their problems. Why? Because it’s far easier to shift the blame, rather than standing up and doing something about the problems we all face.
Just like in Jesus’ day, there are unscrupulous people who readily profit from instability and the pain of others.
That makes Jesus’ words all the more poignant and important.
They were spoken at a time not dissimilar to our own. They were spoken by a Man under immense pressure to either alienate His support, or find Himself arrested and tried for sedition by the Romans.
So these words - Jesus’ verbal escape from their clutches - are utterly remarkable.
They are remarkable because they turned the Pharisees’ intentions on their head and turned the heat back on them.
They are remarkable because they cover a very sore point in Israel at the time with understanding, compassion, but unmistakable wisdom and directness.
They are remarkable because now, two thousand years later, their challenge still resonates.
So no, it is not right for Christians to work outside of the law to depose their ruler. It’s not right because to do so does not give the ruler their rightful place, as God has determined it (Romans 13:1-2). If we rebel against them, we are rebelling against God.
This principle applies whether or not the leader is acting justly or properly. There is no exception.
If we seek to overthrow the powers God has instituted then we are also not giving God His proper place – we are not giving God what is His.
And that is, at its heart, what these verses are all about. The Pharisees were on a mission to silence Jesus because they did not want to give God His proper place. They did not want to submit to His authority. They were too keen to use subversive, and downright heartless, plots to trap Jesus with something He said.
Hence the power and authority behind Jesus’ response.
These verses, at their heart, are about insurrection: insurrection against God’s authority and His plan; insurrection against His will for the Jewish people at that particular time; insurrection against the Messiah.
And it's wrong in every way.
There is a stern challenge in these verses. And it’s not just about paying taxes. That would be a superficial reading of these verses.
No, these verses are about recognising legitimate authority. Yes, it’s about recognising and respecting the legitimate authority of those who lead and rule over us – about giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s. That is important and cannot be missed.
But more, far more, it’s about recognising and respecting God’s authority – it’s about giving to God what is God’s.
That is what is most important.
Because in doing that, first, foremost and above all, we will live life as Jesus intended.
And no attempt to trap us in our words will succeed.
Questions
What have you learned from these verses about how Jesus escaped the Pharisees' trap? How can you apply this to your situation?
How should you react when the government seems to be against you?
How can you 'give to Ceasar what is Caesar and to God what is God's? What will change in your life as a result?
Comments