There is an old, well known saying about not discussing money, religion and politics. Yet, in this passage, we have all three!
On the surface, this passage gives the appearance of being relatively simple to understand, and consequently we can be tempted to fall into the trap of simplifying it.
Do we think we are being kind when we sugar coat things or is it that we are scared of giving hard answers?
It is easy to make the mistake of telling people what we think they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. It is easy to make the mistake of overly simplifying.
Jesus does not sugar coat the truth.
The Pharisees do not like this. The Herodians do not like this.
Two opposing factions, whose only common ground is their dislike of Jesus, joining forces to try and catch Jesus out. They send their disciples to Jesus – after all this way if their plot fails the leaders won’t look as silly.
Hoping to distract Jesus and lower His guard, they start with flattery before asking their question: “is it lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor?” Not is it right but is it lawful!
They were trying to manipulate Jesus. They were expecting the answer to be either yes or no.
The coins the taxes were paid with had the Emperor’s image engraved on them. This was an issue for the Jews who were not allowed graven images.
So, if Jesus answers yes then He offends the Jews and the Pharisees can charge Him with breaching and promoting breaching the commandment regarding graven images.
On the other hand, if Jesus answers no He can be arrested for insurrection and treason.
Ultimately, the question was not really about a concern regarding paying taxes, it’s an agenda. The Pharisees and Herodians are not bothered whether Jesus says yes or no because both these answers will give them what they want.
Despite the teaching as this passage from Matthew plays out, this scenario of trying to manipulate Jesus continues to happen today when we over simplify complex issues, label and categorise people and groups.
Jesus does not allow Himself to be manipulated. Instead of the yes or no answer the question calls for He asks for His questioners to bring Him one of the coins used to pay the taxes with. Once this has been provided to Him, Jesus asks whose image and name are on the coin. This time they cannot get away with their “I don’t know” answers and reply “Caesar’s”.
In the beginning God made us in His own image. He patented us if you like – we are stamped with His mark.
And so, Jesus again transforms the question into one of faith. He answers the question but not how they expected.
Jesus answers that the coin has the mark of Caesar and we have the mark of God. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s”.
Faithfulness is the work of a lifetime with us continually learning to give ourselves to God and one another.
Love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbours as ourselves. Trust God with our whole lives. Walk in the footsteps and image of Jesus.
There will always be issues to deal with but, instead of forgetting whose image is marked upon us we can put these issues into God’s hands.
Jesus is inviting us to be the currency of God’s life in the world.
Talk from Holy Trinity Sheerness 22nd October 2023 (Matthew 22:15-22)
Just because 