Jesus & Politics | Render & Worship | Matthew 22:15-22

PART II | Render & Worship | Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22 | 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 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. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 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.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

DEBATING WITH JESUS

If Jesus is King, then engaging with Him is an inherently political activity. We can learn a lot about how to faithfully view politics from how Jesus engaged with the partisan issues of His day. Jesus has entered the capitol city during a massive religious/patriotic festival with Roman troops in the city to prevent riots. Jesus is popular and the powerful cannot stand it. With a platform of free food and free healthcare, and religious renewal, if there was an election that day Jesus wins in a land slide. The various social and political groups in Jesus’ day were united in their opposition to him. They have a bipartisan plan for power. These parties include:

PHARISEES 

The Pharisees were: socially and religiously conservative, they have been consistent opponents of Jesus as he has engaged with “unclean/unworthy” people. They are nationalistic, red-blooded patriots of the nation of Israel. They cannot stand the Roman occupation of their land and they long for a return to prominence and self-rule they experienced back in the golden age of King David and Solomon. They are not alone…  

HERODIANS

The Herodians were: Elitist, globalist, not particularly religious unless it suits them politically, integrated with Rome. They are violent to their political opponents, morally reprehensible specifically when it comes to sexuality and family relationships. Herod has recently killed John the Baptist at the request of his second wife who was his brother’s wife and cousin.

Both groups are identified not by their nationality, citizenship but their political party. Two parties, working together seeking to get Jesus to fit into (or be rejected by) their tribes. They’re seeking to undermine His influence with their political litmus tests in order to pigeonhole him into one specific party. Never underestimate the unifying power of opposition to Jesus as God and King. What do they say about Jesus and what does Jesus do?

They say four things about Jesus:  1: You are true 2: You teach the way of God truthfully 3: You don’t care about anyone’s opinion 4: You are not swayed by appearances  Jesus is the anti-politician. He is not running for office or seeking votes or approval from people. He knows He’s the king.

A TAXING QUESTION | Verse 17

They try to stoke controversy by asking “is it lawful” to pay a tax to Caesar. They are asking if it is morally right or proper for Jews to pay a specific “Poll Tax” to Caesar. It is believed that people in first century Palestine were some of the most taxed people in the history of the world. 20 years earlier there was a tax revolt in Jesus home region of Galilee where Rome came in and wiped the biggest city in the region off the map. The army that actively oppresses Israel is funded by their direct taxes. They are forcibly paying for their own oppression. This Poll Tax to Caesar wasn’t a property or sales tax it, didn’t go to fund roads or schools. It was a direct wealth transfer from 99% of Israel’s people to the 1% of Caesar.  So to pay, or not to pay, that is the question. Even the way it’s asked the word “pay” is actually translates to “give” implying Caesar doesn’t deserve it. “It’s my money, why would I give it government.”  Jesus is stuck, they’ve got him. Those that pay and hate the tax are present, so if he says simply “Pay the tax.” He could alienate huge portions of His people while seeming to align himself with the hated Romans. If he says: “The tax is exorbitant and it funds an immoral godless government, don’t pay as an act of civil disobedience, in fact I just cleaned out the money changers let’s abolish the Roman IRS next.” The Herodians present, “loyal” to Rome, will charge Jesus with insurrection if He starts calling for rebellion. Jesus calls out the questioners.
 
HYPOCRITES | Verse 18

Their entire hope in this conversation is to use a divisive political issue to weaken Jesus standing with His people and in the culture. There are always people willing to use Jesus to score political points and there are always those who hope to delegitimize Jesus by tying him negatively to their political opponents.  Jesus calls these men out as the hypocrites they are for speaking well of him when they at their core opposed to Him and seek to trap Him in a debate. It’s one thing to know you’re trying to be trapped in debate; it’s another thing to be able to get out of it.

Rule #1 of debate:  Don’t argue with Jesus, you’re going to lose.
 
RENDER RIGHTLY | Verse 19-21

Jesus’ response is “show me the coin for the tax.”  The tax was paid with a certain coin, a denarius. Jesus see the coin and asks who’s “likeness/image” and inscription is on the coin.  This coin didn’t just have the image of Caesar on it (no big deal to us we put presidents on ours.)  The confession of any Roman Citizen is “Caesar is Lord” The coins inscription says “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus.” The people of Israel were required to pay their taxes, with a coin whose image and inscriptions has an exclusive truth claim that Caesar is the son of God and worthy of worship, and Jesus affirms Caesar’s claim to this tax. “Render to Caesar what is Caesars AND to God what is God’s.”  To “Render” is significant, it is different than the “pay/give” word used by the Pharisees. Render means “to pay what is owed” 

What Jesus is teach in this moment is a concept that transcends a tax controversy. He is making a massive shift in the nature of God’s people’s relationship with the civil governments of this world. Jesus says we have a responsibility to our civil governments AND to God. This creates two distinct spheres. Two spheres but they are not equal, and they are not entirely separate. There is earthly government whose sphere exists inside the sphere of what is God’s domain. We serve Caesar in a way that honors God. There is not a part of Government that God doesn’t care about or lay claim to; from national defense to parks and rec.

There may be a functional separation of Church and State, but that doesn’t mean a separation of Jesus & Politics.