Lent Day 36
Matthew 22:15–22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
This is one of many times that the Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus in his words. They wanted to prove that he had not come from God in order to preserve their religious system. Their question was about paying taxes to Ceasar.
The question was a trap. By expressing approval, Jesus would have seemed to be supporting the Roman occupation of Israel. On the other hand, by disapproving, he would have been seen as treasonous against Rome. However Jesus could answer, in their estimation, he would prove to be against God or against Rome.
Jesus, seeing through the rouse, answered their question about taxes with an object lesson. The denarius was a Roman silver coin with a portrait of Emperor Tiberius. The Latin superscription read, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus.” The coins were loaded with propaganda for the worship of emperors and pagan gods, so the Jews considered them to be idolatrous.
Because the coin bears Ceasar's image, Jesus concludes, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” It belongs to him, so it is not idolatrous to return it to him. But then Jesus makes a bold theological statement, “and to God the things that are God’s.”
If the coin bears the image and likeness of Caesar, the human beings bear the image and likeness of God. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). Humans, therefore, belong to God and must return to God. Jesus may have been suggesting that the Pharisees have turned from God and must return. He certainly meant that anyone who has turned from God should return to their God and creator.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we turn to you as the one who created all things, even humankind. Let us not be like the hypocrites who worship the things of this world but claim the name of Christ. But as we navigate the complexities of this world, give us the wisdom to render to our earthly rulers that which belongs to them while we give ourselves wholly over to you. Amen.
The question was a trap. By expressing approval, Jesus would have seemed to be supporting the Roman occupation of Israel. On the other hand, by disapproving, he would have been seen as treasonous against Rome. However Jesus could answer, in their estimation, he would prove to be against God or against Rome.
Jesus, seeing through the rouse, answered their question about taxes with an object lesson. The denarius was a Roman silver coin with a portrait of Emperor Tiberius. The Latin superscription read, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus.” The coins were loaded with propaganda for the worship of emperors and pagan gods, so the Jews considered them to be idolatrous.
Because the coin bears Ceasar's image, Jesus concludes, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” It belongs to him, so it is not idolatrous to return it to him. But then Jesus makes a bold theological statement, “and to God the things that are God’s.”
If the coin bears the image and likeness of Caesar, the human beings bear the image and likeness of God. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). Humans, therefore, belong to God and must return to God. Jesus may have been suggesting that the Pharisees have turned from God and must return. He certainly meant that anyone who has turned from God should return to their God and creator.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we turn to you as the one who created all things, even humankind. Let us not be like the hypocrites who worship the things of this world but claim the name of Christ. But as we navigate the complexities of this world, give us the wisdom to render to our earthly rulers that which belongs to them while we give ourselves wholly over to you. Amen.
Posted in Lent 2024
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