Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's

 

 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore, what do You think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?  Show Me the tax money."  so they brought Him a denarius.  And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"  They said to Him, "Caesar's."  And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

 

- Matthew 22:15-22 

 

Our recent readings take place during Holy Week, the final week of Christ' earthly life.  Yesterday we read that Jesus answered and spoke to the religious leaders in the temple again by parables and said:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.  Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready.  Come to the wedding."'  But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.  And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.  But when the king heard about it, he was furious.  And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.  Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'  So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good.  And the wedding hall was filled with guests.  But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?'  And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'  For many are called, but few are chosen."

 

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore, what do You think?  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"  My study Bible explains that this question on taxation is a trap.  If He answers "yes" it will turn the Jewish people against Him.  But if He answers "no" that will bring a charge of treason by the Romans.  But, once again, Christ will have His own answer for this question.  Herodians are those followers of Herod's Court, Jewish political supporters of the ruling house of Herod the Great, the dynasty that ruled for Rome.

 

  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?  Show Me the tax money."  so they brought Him a denarius.  And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"  They said to Him, "Caesar's."  And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.   My study Bible says that this answer by Jesus defeats the cunning of the religious leaders, and shows that a believer can give the state its due while serving God (Romans 13:1-7).  Jesus illustrates His point with the coin which bears the image of the emperor and so is properly paid to him; but so, as well, each person bears the image of God and therefore belongs to God.  The conflict comes only when the state demands that which is contrary to God.  The differences between  things that are Caesars and things that are God's doesn't imply a division of the lives of believers into the secular and sacred.  God is Lord over all of life, including the secular, my study Bible tells us.  But we fulfill governmental requires that are not in conflict with our first responsibility to God (see also Acts 4:19, 5:29).  To pay taxes and fulfill similar civil duties is not detrimental to holiness.

One thing we can notice about Christ's response to this "trick" question designed as a trap:  He doesn't accept the premises of the question put to Him.  That is, while the question is posed in order to elicit an either/or answer, Jesus asserts His own premises, making it clear that paying taxes is part of the rule of government which establishes the economic system and prints its money.  But while the coin may be precious to Caesar, our lives and souls are governed by God.   In another comment about money and what we do with it, Jesus teaches the parable of the Unjust Steward, and then comments, "For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.  I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.  He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.  Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" (Luke 16:8-11).  In other words, while Christ would never advocate a materialistic lifestyle, He does teach that we can do good things with our money ("unrighteous mammon"), in making "friends" by sharing with the needy.  So Christ establishes that there are proper ways in which to use our wealth to do good works, as well as improper ways in which compassion and generosity go unexpressed.  With wealth we may also employ people to do good works with their skills and labor, contributing to good things in our world and caring for their families.   My study Bible emphasizes that Christ teaches there is no separation in our lives of the sacred and the secular; all is under God.  In a verse that is often misquoted St. Paul says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10).   It is not money per se that is evil in and of itself, but the "love of money."  That is, valuing wealth in and for itself.  St. Paul subsequently instructs Timothy, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).  Let us consider also, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17).  Let us consider that all of our blessings come from God, and that Christ is asking us to place every blessing in service to God, using what we have to bless the world, for in so doing we render to God the things that are God's.