Unto Caesar

The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor. They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But He detected their trickery and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent. Luke 20:19-26


Oh, the richness of Christ's wisdom! Not only could He not be tricked, He had a way of handing back to the hypocrites their own trap. These exchanges with the Jewish leaders are priceless.

They knew the parable of the vineyard was about them. They knew the people knew it. It could be only a matter of time before they lost all credibility with the people of Israel. There had to be a way to ensnare this Person who threatened their power base. Ah, yes. We'll send phony flatterers to butter Him up and get Him to incriminate Himself by defying Caesar. That would be the politically popular position to take. The following conversation with Jesus is one of my favorites, because it has such poetry and such broad spiritual application.

"Teacher" (Greek-didaskalos: instructor), we know you are teaching God's truth, without partiality (see Nicodemus in John 3:2). It seems these leaders of Israel had aced their graduate course in flattery. Remember, Jesus knows every heart. He knew what was really going on with these men. So, "do we really have to pay taxes to Caesar?" I know some modern Americans who deny the necessity to pay federal taxes. I know some who have done prison time rather than pay, and will never admit their mistake. They tend to try to ignore or explain away this teaching of the Savior. It is deliciously simple: "whose picture is on the money?"

There are earthly obligations in being citizens of a country. Taxation is one of them, for the support of the government. Jesus never exempted anyone from their genuine duties in the human realm. If Caesar's face is on the money, then his claim on a percentage of that money cannot honestly be denied. But the important statement is what followed: "to God that which is God's. (!)" What part of my money, my life, my person is God's? Whose image and superscription do I bear? It is a question I like to ask myself from time to time, when struggling with questions concerning my own responsibilities, as well as my behavior.

What could the hypocrites say in response to that? They said nothing. Their response was stunned silence. I love it. Thank you, Lord, for always stating, never debating, the Truth You came to teach.