Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s
In this week’s Gospel reading, the Pharisees and the Herodians try to trip Jesus up, but He won’t fall for their setup. They ask Him to choose between the worldly and the holy, between the political and the religious. Jesus simply says that we need to give to each what is due to each.
Instead of falling into the trap set by the Pharisees, Jesus approaches the question in a completely different way. He asks them to show Him the money with which they pay tax. Immediately, He turned the tables on them. He doesn’t appear to carry any of the coins in question and yet the Pharisees’ disciples carry them as a matter of habit. They are asking if it is permissible to pay the tax and yet freely carry the coin with which the tax is paid. Jesus shows up the hypocrisy of their question by forcing them to reveal their own position in the simple action of producing one of the Roman coins. Jesus then closes the dispute by instructing them to render (give) to Caesar what belongs to Caesar but, more importantly, render to God what belongs to God. In a very simple way, Jesus has shown the Pharisees’ disciples as being collaborators with the Roman authority and placing that authority above the authority of God. He reminds the listeners that regardless of earthly authority, the first duty is owed to God.
The question of coinage was a problematic one for first century Jews. The tradition – grounded in the commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai – forbade the use of ‘graven’ or carved images. The people of Israel took this prohibition very seriously and did not portray the human face in artwork of any kind. Roman coins were minted with the face of the emperor on them and it was compulsory that taxes be paid with Roman coins. This helps to explain the role of the Temple money-changers who converted the Roman coin into Temple coin that could be used for religious purposes.
The Gospel of Matthew tends to treat the Pharisees rather harshly. In fact, they had more in common with Jesus’ style of teaching than other religious groups of the time and some have suggested that Jesus may even have been quite closely associated with the Pharisees. The role of the Pharisees was to interpret the Torah – the Law – for everyday people. They were teachers and preachers who often had a group of disciples who were their followers. The community in which the Gospel of Matthew was written regarded the Pharisees harshly because they saw Jesus – not the Pharisees – as the rightful interpreter of the Law.
This Gospel passage is sometimes interpreted as Jesus’ endorsement of the Christian responsibility to state authorities. It has been interpreted as affirming the obligation to pay taxes and participate in the processes of government. In fact, Jesus neatly avoided the direct question put to Him and never gave a response to the question of paying taxes. Rather, He made the question a much broader one and reminded people that their first obligation was to God, not the state. It is an excellent example of the need for critical interpretation of scripture. A simple, literal reading of this text leads us to drawing simple, literal conclusions about whether or not we should be paying taxes.
The sense that we, as the People of God, can split off our obligations to the Gospel from the State is as false as it is dangerous. We only have to think of some of the darkest chapters of the last century to see what happens when good, church-going people like us, do not put their Sunday devotion in touch with their Monday politics. Evil can reign.
In the Gospel, it is made clear that Jesus is not here to divide our world between the obligations to Caesar and our obligations to God. Instead, He answers and acknowledges the state’s responsibility, but affirms that a greater commitment is owed to God. Coins and images that bear Caesar’s face may belong to him, but all things on this earth are under the dominion of God.
The world asks for money, but God asks for your heart.
Prayer for the Gospel Reading
God of Justice and Compassion, we thank you for your provision.
We are blessed to be citizens of this great country and we are blessed even more by being citizens of your Heavenly Kingdom. Help us to look inwardly to assess our priorities and correct them where we need to.
Help us look outwardly to see how each of us can build your Kingdom here on earth. We seek to give to you what belongs to you (and nothing less) and give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (and nothing more).
Heal our divisions, strengthen our faith, and guide our steps. Amen!
