Mark 12:13-17, CEB - They sent some of the Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you’re genuine and you don’t worry about what people think. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay taxes or not?”
Since Jesus recognized their deceit, he said to them,
“Why are you testing me? Bring me a coin. Show it to me.” And they brought one. He said to them, “Whose
image and inscription is this?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to
Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” His reply left them overcome with
wonder.
Having
been bested by Jesus in the first challenge concerning authority, the Pharisees
join forces with Herodians (Jewish supporters of and colluders with Herod, the
Roman-appointed governor) to try and trick Jesus into saying something either chargeable
under the law or unpopular with His supporters.
They ask Jesus about a hot-button issue at the time which was the
taxation of the occupying Romans. The
Roman was extremely unpopular almost everyone and there were Zealots among the
Jews who defiantly refused to pay it.
The Herodians, on the other hand, benefitted from their cooperation with
the Romans and some of them were both civic and religious leaders. They would have loved to have Jesus quoted as
supporting NOT paying taxes to Caesar.
He could then be charged with rebellion and dealt with as a traitor to
the Roman government. However, if Jesus
clearly advocates paying the taxes, his own followers will be displeased. The Pharisee-Herodian alliance sees this
question as a win either way.
Jesus
is aware of what they are trying to do (their ruse is quite obvious) and his
answer once again avoids the trap. The
answer also gives Mark’s readers a decision framework to work from when making decisions
concerning the sometimes competing claims of civic duty and faith in God. After asking his questioners to produce a
Roman denarius, he gives the following principle.
“Give
to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
We should note here that the fact
the questioners are able to produce a denarius within the walls of the temple
exposes their hypocrisy. Jewish Oral law
prohibited coinage with anyone’s image upon them to be carried in the
Temple. Everyone present would have
known that because everyone was subject to the coin exchanges outside the Temple
to facilitate adherence to this law. The
leaders are visibly in violation of their own law concerning money when asking
Jesus about the proper use of it.
Jesus doesn’t instruct people to
pay taxes or not pay taxes. His answer makes
some assumptions:” (1) paying taxes to governmental authorities is necessary to
serve the common good and (2) while #1 may be true, a faithful follower of God
will always consider what should be given to God. I like the way Lamar Williamson summarizes
Jesus instruction here:
“The guidance offered is not
that of a quick and unequivocal answer. Rather than give a direct answer in an
oracle from God, Jesus uses an object lesson from everyday life and expects us
to use our discipline common sense. He
does not simply tell us what to do, but suggests how we ought to think about
our decision.” (Williamson, p. 220)1
While other New Testament writers talk more extensively
about navigating matters of civic and religious life, this is one of the few
places where we hear straight from Jesus on the subject. The principle we get from Jesus here is that
we are to use all the resources of our faith and our acumen as citizens to make
honorable decisions that have integrity.
This might mean making different decisions on different occasions should
the details demand it. While it can be
frustrating not to have a black and white pronouncement to follow in these
matters, what Jesus gives us is a responsibility to exercise all of our
theological and moral resources to act justly in each situation. In most cases, “Caesar” is due at least
something because “Caesar” is charged with the common good and needs resources
to accomplish it. Civil disobedience may
sometimes be warranted, but it is not to be untaken lightly and before one has
carefully weighed all the options. In all cases, what is due to God is always
our first concern and responsibility.
Question: What is the
relationship between what you give to governments and what you give to God?
Prayer: Lord, our
first citizenship is that in the Kingdom of God, but we are also subject to
earthly authorities. Gove us wisdom to navigate
both allegiances in a way that serves the common good and honors You above all
else. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray for all public servants of the common
good today.
Song: Taxman – Beatles
No comments:
Post a Comment