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A CLOSER LOOK |
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HOMEPAGE |
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BIBLE PASSAGES |
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MATTHEW 17 (JESUS AND THE TAX) |
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ROMANS 13:1-5 THE POWER OF THE STATE |
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MATTHEW 22... JESUS AND TAX TO CAESAR |
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BIBLE TOPICS |
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DID JESUS FEAR THE CROSS? |
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OUR ROCK... JESUS OR PETER |
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BIBLICAL BASIS FOR LEADERSHIP |
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CHRISTIAN LIVING |
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WIVES AND MOTHERS... THEIR HIGH CALLING |
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DRAW THE LINE |
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MATTHEW 22... JESUS AND TAX TO CAESAR
WHAT ABOUT MATTHEW 22?
This is the passage where Jesus said,
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Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
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A REQUEST
Before we go any further in our study, let me ask you to do something. Without looking at the passage, recount it from memory. Recount the events and the words and explain the meaning of this passage. After you have done this, either write down what you remember the passage to say and mean or at least tuck it away in your memory. I am going to want you to compare what you think it says and means with what I am about to tell you.
A WARNING
One more thing before we get started. Many of you are not going to agree with what I say concerning this passage. I can save you some time.
* For those who have a hard time believing anything I say, don't read this article. It might cause you ulcers.
* For those who are looking for quick and easy answers, don't read this, it will require too much effort.
This is a unified piece of work and must be considered as such.
* For those who are interested in my point of view but will get upset after reading a portion of this lesson and quit, don't read it, it will be a waste of time and you still won't be any more informed.
* For those who already know all there is to know about this passage and you already know that I must be wrong, don't read this, why mess with perfection.
* For those who find my point of view interesting or amusing but you are still going to disagree with me, read it, but don't worry about learning very much since you have your mind made up and you won't be confused by the facts. It will make the reading more fun.
I almost hesitate to mention the possibility that someone will actually agree with me, but anyway, let's see what happens.
GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PASSAGE
PEOPLE use this passage to prove that we must do anything and everything which we are told to do by the State. It is as if this passage is a blank check for the State to do anything it wants to do, and require it's citizens to do anything it demands. Actually there is no passage in the Bible which gives absolute power to the State.
Usually when this passage is brought up in a discussion, it does not start with the first part of the passage. It usually goes something like this.
"Jesus tells us that we are to pay our taxes. When He was asked whether we should pay taxes to Caesar, He told us to, 'Render to Caesar that which is Caesar's.'"
These arguments are presented as a clear and final answer to the issue, meaning that Jesus commanded us to pay taxes (or whatever the State requires.)
But that is not what is recorded. To understand this passage we must read all of it and understand it in it's religio/socio/historical setting. Not too many people will agree with my understanding, but rather they will choose to follow the explanations given by most commentators. Though most of the well known commentators verify the historical data I share here, they do not make the same application that I do (then again, they don't understand the heart purity passages either). Let's examine this passage in context and then decide what it actually means.
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Mat 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
Mat 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
Mat 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Mat 22:22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
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THE PLAYERS INVOLVED
The Jewish leadership was seeking to remove Jesus from His position of influence and impact among the people. Three different groups of Jewish leaders were trying to silence Jesus.
THE HERODIANS
The Herodians were the Jews who were more politically oriented. They were called "Herodians" because they had supported the Herods in their political and social platform. Remember, though the Herods were rulers over the Jews, they were not Jews themselves, they were Idumaens or descendents of Edom (Esau). Since Jesus held to the "old truths" and was a fulfillment of the Old Testament, the Herodians were enemies of Jesus and His Jewishness. They were also despised by the orthodox and popular Jewish party, the Pharisees.
THE PHARISEES
The Pharisees were the conservative group of Jewish leaders. They always wanted to maintain their "Jewishness" in things religious, social and political. Though they were both externalistic (concerned about their outward appearance of religion) and legalistic (concerned about keeping the letter of the law of Moses rather than the spirit in which it was intended), they were also concerned about maintaining the teachings of the Jewish faith. They had been the ones to hold the line against the outside rulers who had come in to corrupt the Jewish culture. They were therefore favorites among many Jews in the time of Jesus. They did believe in many of the same things which Jesus believed in, but they did not want some new, upstart leader and group to come in and move the Jews away from traditional Judaism. They would be considered the "conservative" group.
THE SADUCEES
The Saducees were the more "liberal" group. They denied the authority of the Old Testament and spiritual existence, and the resurrection. They were major enemies of Jesus and His New Testament Church.
All three groups were seeking to undermine Jesus and His movement. That is why they engaged Jesus in discussions which they thought would discredit Him and even bring State reprisals.
THE PLOT IS CONCEIVED
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Mat 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
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The first thing to notice about this passage is that it is not primarily a teaching on paying taxes. It is a passage showing the trickery and conspiracy used by the Pharisees when they were trying to trap Jesus in His own words.
This is not insignificant. It is vital to the understanding of the passage. This was not meant to be a declaration of our duty to the State. Maybe we can learn something about our responsibility to the State, but it is secondary to the passage. Since this is not an honest enquiry into a believers responsibility to the State, it was not answered primarily as a teaching on the believers responsibility to the State.
It is also important to notice that the Pharisees chose a subject which they believed would indict Jesus, either in the eyes of the people or the eyes of Rome. If Jesus answered on one side of the issue, He would disenfranchise Himself from the people; if on the other side of the issue, He would jeopardize Himself with Rome. Since He knew this was the purpose of the question, Jesus did not fall prey to their snare. His answer was clear, but couched.
Now before you get bothered by me saying that Jesus gave a couched answer, remember, He had said that He gave parables so that some people would not understand the spiritual meaning and others would. Those who were truly interested in the truth would improve their light, those who were not, would only understand the natural application of the parable. Jesus does the same thing in this situation. He makes His answer clear to those who were concerned with this issue, but not so clear as to allow them to trap Him with His own words.
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Mat 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians
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Here is a couple of strange bedfellows. The Herodians and the Pharisees. Avowed enemies working in concert to ensnare Jesus. The Moslems have a saying, probably stolen from an older culture, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Since both the Pharisee and the Herodian considered Jesus as their enemy, they became allies against Him. People who have major differences with each other will often overlook their disagreements and join forces when they are trying to defeat a common enemy. The Pharisees and the Herodians were on opposite sides of the question which was about to be posed to Jesus. Whichever way Jesus answered, He would fall into their trap.
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Mat 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
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The Pharisees and Herodians did not have a proper respect for Jesus and His teachings, however, they did recognize Him as a formidable opponent. They came to Him with flattering words to throw Him off guard. Remembering the Trojan Horse affair is what is meant when we are warned, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
THE TRAP IS SET
They then asked the question which they hoped would trap Jesus with His Own words.
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Mat 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
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It is very important to notice how this question was asked. Keep in mind, the question was being asked by the Pharisees. The Pharisees were very clever and cunning. They were well educated and very knowledgeable in debate. It was important to phrase the question just right or it would lose it's meaning. We make a mistake if we think this is a simple question about paying taxes. It was a well thought out and structured question. We need to understand the historical and cultural background to understand the issue.
THE QUESTION WHICH WAS ASKED
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Mat. 22:17 "...is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"
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The question was not, "Is it lawful to NOT pay tribute to Caesar." They were not looking for a way out of paying taxes. The question was not, "Am I allowed to NOT pay tribute to Caesar?" Jews paid taxes. That was not the question. However, the tax which was being addressed in this passage was a very special tax. It was a poll or capitation or head tax which was paid with a specially minted coin. It is in this coin we find the problem with paying this tax.
Think about it. The question was, IS IT LAWFUL, AM I ALLOWED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO CAESAR? Why would they ask the question that way? There must have been something special about this tax, which made it exceptionally objectionable to the Jews on the basis of the Jewish law.
IS IT LAWFUL TO PAY TRIBUTE TO CAESAR?
The tax in question was not an expensive tax. The tax was paid with a single coin, the Denarius. Commentators have given the value of this coin at just a few cents. However, this coin was considered in the Gospels as a day's wages for laborers. This is not as much of a problem as it appears. In the days of my grandfather's youth (circa 1915) a day's wages was about 25 cents.
THE TRAP IS SEEN
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Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
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Jesus knew He was being set up. He knew the issue at hand was not the paying of taxes. Despite the flattering words which they offered Him, He saw through their ploy. He did not mince words, He called them hypocrites because of their craftiness, trickery.
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Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
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People think that Jesus used the coin simply as an object lesson. NO! It was more than an object lesson. It was the point on which the whole controversy pivoted. The coin itself was the problem. Jesus asked for someone to bring Him the coin (Mark 12:15) and then He had someone show it to the crowd.
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Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
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Most financial transactions in history had been made with measured amounts of gold, silver, grain, wine, oil or some other commodity. As time went by, the precious metals were formed into bracelets or some other convenient object. Eventually (circa 540 B.C.) coins were minted, sometimes with the value stamped on them. The Jews did not mint coins until about 100 B.C. Oftentimes the head of the ruler of a region was printed on the coin with other symbolic art work. Being an occupied country, Judah had used coins from the Persians, Greeks and Romans. This Denarius was the coin used for "tribute" tax. The coin had gone through changes with the changing of Emperors of the Roman Empire. This tribute coin carried the image of Tiberius Caesar.
Jesus asked for a Denarius to be handed to Him. He then asked those around Him who's image and superscription were on the coin. It was Tiberius Caesar. The royal line of Emperors had started with Julius Caesar and continued through his adoptive son, Octavius, called Augustus and was later passed on, in turn, to his step son Tiberius. There seems to have been different superscriptions on the different tribute coins, but they all made the same kind of declaration. These Ceasars were either referred to as god or as the son of god.
THE REAL QUESTION
Do you now see where the real problem was with paying the Tribute money? The more conservative Jews had a problem giving tribute of any kind to any occupying government. But they had a major problem in paying a tax to a king when the money coined for that very purpose bore the image of a man who claimed to be god and the superscription on the coin declared his deity. This was a violation of the cornerstone of Israel's religion. The first of the Ten Commandments forbade the recognizing of other gods. The second of the Ten Commandments forbade the forming of "graven" images for the purpose of worshipping and serving. And the most important passage in the Old Testament to the Jews declared that there is only One God.
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"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exo 20:3
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God" Exo 20:4-5
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" Deu 6:4
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I did not always understand why this question asked of Jesus was so "tricky." But that is because I was looking at it from a Gentile point of view. I was looking at it from a modern point of view. I was looking at it as if it was a question about "taxes." I couldn't have been more wrong. This was a very important and basic question concerning the very Person and Nature of the Only True God.
NOW, REMEMBER THE QUESTION?
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"Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"
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IS IT LAWFUL? Are we Jews even allowed to deal with this unclean coin? It posed a problem of gargantuan proportions.
If Jesus responded by saying, "Yes, it is lawful to pay the Tribute Coin," He would be going against the most basic and important of all Jewish beliefs and would alienate Himself from a major portion of Israel.
If He said, "No, it is not lawful to pay the Tribute Coin," He would be guilty of insurrection against Rome.
The Pharisees and the Herodians had planned well. It was no simple "tax" question.
Now we come to the part of the event which will be even more difficult for some of you to accept.
JESUS ANSWERS THE QUESTION
When asked whose image was on the coin,
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They say unto him, Caesar's...Mat 22:21
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This is usually explained as Jesus making a clear cut declaration that we should all pay our taxes. If that concept is in this passage, it is incidental and not central. This passage is not primarily a lesson on Christian duties to the State. It is a response to a "trick" question which involved Jewish law.
With that in mind let's see if we can find the true meaning to His answer.
Those around Him acknowledged Caesar's image on the coin. That, after all, was the point of the question. Jesus then said,
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"Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Ceasar's; and unto God the things that are God's" Mat 22:21
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Do you see it? Is it not totally clear?
Well, maybe and maybe not. Exactly where does Jesus say, "YES, PAY YOUR TAXES"? Nowhere. He doesn't.
He instead tells them that if they have something which belongs to Caesar, render it to him. It is even questionable if all the people present possessed or even trafficked in the Tribute Coin. Since there were some in that day which did not, it is safe to say that some of those present did not. After all, He had to ask for a coin to be brought and then shown to the people. Those who dealt with the coin had an obligation, those who did not have the coin did not have an obligation. It was reminiscent of His statement concerning the sword,
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Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52
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If they were dealing in the Tribute Coin, they had an obligation to pay to Caesar his part. If you recognize the deity of Caesar you should serve Caesar. You are slave to the one you recognize as your master. If you are willing to recognize Caesar as god, render to him his due. If you are willing to honor Caesar as your god then serve your god. But for those who refuse to defile themselves with the Tribute Coin, render to God what belongs to God. Those who refuse to recognize Caesar as God and refuse to honor him as God, they are not obligated to serve him as God.
I realize that there are not many who will accept this position. Some are saying, Ah Ha! he is just looking for a way out of paying taxes. No. We are commanded to pay our taxes, but not necessarily from this passage. The answer Jesus gave did not force the faithful Jews to defile themselves with the Tribute Coin and those who chose to deal in the Coin were told to pay it. That is why the people,
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When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. Mat 22:22
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THE ANSWER WAS WISER THAN THE QUESTION
He answered them in such a way that no one could fault Him. He had not fallen into their trap of saying, "Yes" or "No."
Of course, today we are totally sure about what His answer was and we are totally sure of what it all meant, but then again...
Remember, this is not a study to excuse not paying of taxes, this is a study to show that Mt. 22 is not proof that we owe everything to the State. We can say the passage means whatever we want it to mean, but it actually means what it means and that is all.
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