When we travel through the Gospel with Matthew as we’ve done for the past liturgical year, there are some important things to keep in mind that can really inform our understanding of the things that are shared in that text. First of all, Matthew’s is a thoroughly Jewish Gospel. Matthew is himself a Jew, he is intimately connected to the Hebrew Scriptures, and often makes references to them. He writes this Gospel story for a Jewish Diaspora community in or around Alexandria. He also can often make references that are not quite so in your face, but were still quite clear to a 1st Century Jewish congregation. Matthew is still the former tax collector. When Matthew makes reference to the tax system of the Roman empire, he is very much conscious of the degree to which the Jews detested the occupation by Rome, which was made a part of day to day life through the taxation system. So there are some extra layers we need to sift through with this Gospel.
Jesus asks the questioners “Whose image is on the coin for the tax. The measure of ownership in his answer, is the image it bears. He drives it all home saying, “give to Caesar what is Caesar, and to God what is God. Matthew in this answer is pointing back to the very first chapter in the very first book of the Hebrew Scriptures. “Let us make humanity in our own image.” It is each and every one of us that bears God’s image. We may owe the tax to Caesar, but we owe ourselves; body mind and Spirit, to God.
This story revolves around the famous question of paying taxes to Caesar, and Jesus’ profound response. Let’s delve into the text and explore the timeless lessons it holds.
The religious authorities of the time sought to trap Jesus with a seemingly straightforward question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Their aim was to put Him in a no-win situation. If He endorsed paying taxes to Caesar, He risked alienating the Jewish crowd who resented Roman rule. On the other hand, if He rejected paying taxes, He would be seen as a revolutionary by the Roman authorities.
Jesus’ response was nothing short of brilliance. He asked for a denarius, the Roman coin used to pay the tax, and inquired whose image and inscription were on it. When they answered, “Caesar’s,” Jesus delivered the memorable line, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).
Jesus’ response recognizes the duality of human existence. We are citizens of both earthly kingdoms and the kingdom of God. While our earthly obligations are important, our primary allegiance is to God’s kingdom, and we must never let worldly concerns overshadow our spiritual ones.
: Jesus didn’t dismiss the responsibility to pay taxes, even in an oppressive political climate. He emphasized the importance of obeying just laws, acknowledging that taxes are a part of sustaining civic order.
Jesus’ response teaches us about the importance of honoring and respecting the governing authorities, even if they are not perfect. This principle aligns with broader biblical teachings about submission to authority figures.
In our lives, we face similar dilemmas. We have financial obligations, civic duties, and responsibilities to our communities. Yet, we must also remember our higher duty to God. Balancing these two realms is an art, and it often involves making decisions that reflect our Christian values.
The story of paying taxes to Caesar is more than a historical anecdote; it’s a profound lesson about our responsibilities as dual citizens of this world and the kingdom of God. It calls us to honor the laws of the land while never losing sight of our ultimate allegiance to our Creator.
In a world that often demands our allegiance to various authorities, may we approach our civic duties with wisdom, recognizing that the things we give to Caesar, while important, must never overshadow the things we give to God. By rendering to both with integrity, we can strive to live out the teachings of Christ in a complex and ever-changing world.