Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22 NIV)
Politics are complicated. Politics divide people. Think I’m talking about America today? No, I’m talking about ancient Israel. Did you know that there were political parties in ancient Israel? Not Republicans and Democrats. But you’ve heard the names: Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Zealots… Those were all religious groups, but, at the same time, each of those groups had very strong political opinions. Just like America in 2023, politics in ancient Israel were divided.
But all those ancient political parties had one thing in common: They hated Jesus. As different as their political beliefs were, the Jewish leaders were united in their opposition to Jesus. Know why? Jesus taught people not to put their trust in men. Jesus insisted that salvation was found in one place: Him! Every political leader says, “You need me. You need what I offer!” Jesus said, “No, you just need me. Repent and believe in me.” He wasn’t shy about it. Over the past three Sundays, we’ve heard Jesus preach three parables which all condemned the Jewish leaders for rejecting him. Remember the parables? 1) The Parable of the Two Sons; 2) The Parable of the Wicked Tenants; 3) The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. Jesus told the Jewish leaders to repent.
But they didn’t repent. Instead, “the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.” Like you’d set a trap for a wild animal, the Pharisees were determined to trap Jesus in his words. To make him say the wrong thing. If you want to get someone in trouble, if you want to make someone say the wrong thing, what should you ask them about? Politics! Right? That was the Pharisees’ plan. “If we want to get Jesus to sin or to say the wrong thing or to get people upset, we know just what to do. Let’s ask him about politics!” It seems like a great strategy, doesn’t it?
So the Pharisees “sent their disciples to Jesus along with the Herodians.” That’s a surprising combination. Here’s where we need to know about politics in ancient Israel. The Pharisees and Herodians were enemies. The Pharisees were nationalists. They hated that Israel was controlled by the Romans. They longed for a Messiah to free them from Rome. The Herodians, on the other hand, liked Roman rule. They supported all the kings named Herod—there were a bunch of them!—who got their power from Rome. Understand the difference? The Pharisees wanted the Romans gone. The Herodians were content with Roman rule. Opposites, yet united against Jesus.
So they set their trap. Of course, every trap looks good on the outside. They started by buttering Jesus up: “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.” They didn’t mean that. But here’s the irony: It’s all true! Jesus is a man of integrity. Jesus teaches the way of God in accordance with the truth. Jesus isn’t swayed by popular opinion. It’s all true! They knew exactly who Jesus was, but they refused to believe in him.
Their trap was just one simple question: “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” Here’s why that was a trap: If Jesus said, “Yes, pay your taxes to Caesar—the Roman emperor,” the people would turn against him. Nobody likes paying taxes. The people hated Roman rule. But if Jesus said, “No, don’t pay your taxes to Caesar,” he would be put to death for treason against the Romans. It was a brilliant trap. It was a no-win situation for Jesus! Can you see that?
This question wasn’t just a political one. It was a religious question. Was it right for true believers in God to pay taxes to a pagan emperor like Caesar, who considered himself a god? Was it right for God’s people in Israel to support the pagan Roman empire? Know what most Jews in Jesus’ day would have said? “Of course not!” Jesus had just entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. There was a strong belief that Jesus would deliver the people from the Romans. So what would he say? Is it right for believers in God to pay taxes to Caesar or not? If he said, “Yes!” he would lose all credibility among the Jews. If he said, “No!” he would be guilty of treason.
I bet you can see how practical this question is for Christians still today. Is it right for Christians to pay taxes to an unchristian government? Have you wondered that? I just saw a news story that in 2022, $600 billion in income taxes were not paid by American citizens. I bet some of that unpaid tax was by Christians who refuse to pay their share of tax to an ungodly government. God wouldn’t want us to pay taxes to them, would he? With all the ungodly things they do?
It’s hard to think of a better trap. Jesus was going to disappoint somebody, right? No. He’s God. He’s so much smarter than all of us put together! Jesus gave a remarkable response. First, he saw right through their trap. “But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?’” Jesus can see right through hypocrisy. If you or I ever think we’ve fooled God, we’re wrong! Jesus can smell hypocrisy from a mile away, and it stinks!
So here’s what Jesus said, “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” “They brought him a denarius.” He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.” This was brilliant. Before he answered, he asked them to show him a coin. This imperial tax, which was paid by each person who wasn’t a Roman citizen, was paid with a denarius. You’ve heard of that. A denarius was a coin worth one day’s wage. Whose picture was on a denarius? Tiberius Caesar’s—the Roman emperor. Whose inscription was on it? On the back was an inscription that said: “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus.”
With coin in hand, Jesus gave his answer: “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Which side was Jesus on? Neither. Or both. At the same time. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Should believers in God pay taxes to Caesar? Yes! Caesar had a right to demand their money. Why? It had Caesar’s face on it! Throughout the Bible, God commands people to respect government and obey government and pay taxes to government. “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” At the same time, Jesus set a limit. Don’t worship Caesar. Don’t give Caesar your heart. Or your faith. Or your hope. Who do those belong to? God! What an answer! “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Trap destroyed! “When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”
Jesus wants us to know that we live in two kingdoms at the same time. Did you know that? We live in an earthly kingdom with an earthly government put in place by God himself. For us, that’s the United States of America. That’s a good thing! God uses governments to create stability on earth. We need that! At the same time, we live in a different kingdom—the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus. That’s an even better thing! Our faith is in Jesus. Our hope is in heaven. Two kingdoms. Both good. One’s better. One controls life on earth. One gives eternal life in heaven.
A Christian needs to recognize which things belong to Caesar and which things belong to God.
So, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Whether our governmental leaders are Christians or not, whether we agree with everything they do or not, they are put in place by God himself. Do you believe that? That’s why the Bible commands, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1). Even the pagan Roman emperor received his authority from God, just like our president and our governor receive their authority from God. When you and I disrespect our government or refuse to pay our taxes, whom are we disrespecting? God. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.”
But Jesus made sure to add, “and give to God what is God’s.” Remember what inscription was on the back of a denarius? “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus.” What did each Roman Caesar claim? To be “divine.” To be God. To be worshipped. Was that true? No way! Caesar has a right to your money and your obedience, but not to your heart. See the difference? Don’t call any politician a Savior. Don’t act as though what Christians need is a different government. Pay your taxes, but trust in God. Obey the laws, but hope in Christ. Both.
I think we Christians in America need to hear this, because we go wrong on both sides. I hear a lot of Christians dishonoring our government: “I don’t like them, and they are so unchristian, and I think they are all stupid!” Sound like you? That all might be true. But what does God say? Respect them. Obey them. Pay taxes to them. Why? For God’s sake. At the same time, I hear a lot of Christians putting their faith in government: “We need this one person in office, and he will solve all of our problems. The future of Christianity depends on him!” Sound like you? What would Jesus say? “How dare you give to Caesar what belongs to me? I’m the Savior!” We are constantly tempted to give our government less or more than the government is owed. Either disrespect or worship. Instead, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
But what about when the government gets it wrong? That’s our concern, isn’t it? Doesn’t God know all the bad things the government is doing? Don’t he need us to fix it? Just three days after this, do you know what Jesus’ government did? It executed him on a cross. Do you think Jesus knew that would happen? Absolutely. What was his crime? Treason against Caesar. Remember the inscription that was nailed to Jesus’ cross? “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19). Jesus’ cross is the greatest example of the government doing something horribly wrong.
And yet, what did God use that cross to do? Save the world. God used that cross to pay for all our sins. Jesus died on that cross for every time we have disobeyed the authorities God has put over us. Jesus died on that cross for every time we have put our faith in governments instead of in God. That cross proves something: God rules. God can save no matter what governments do. In fact, God is able to use even the worst governments to carry out his will. Can you see that? Do you believe that? No government can do anything apart from the will of God who died for us. So stop worrying! Stop letting politics weigh down your heart. Trust in Jesus in all circumstances.
Christians can be the best citizens. Know why? You’re able to respect the government without worshipping it. To obey the government without trusting in it. To make this country a better place without putting your hope in it. How? You know the real King! So show respect, even for those who don’t deserve it. Pay your taxes. But trust in God. Put your hope in heaven. God’s made you a citizen of two kingdoms: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.
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