The Reading
The Gospel
Matthew 22:15-22
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
The Sermon
Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Give to God the things that are God's.
When Jesus answered this question about taxes it was clear that the Pharisees and Herodians were trying to trip him up...again. And again, Jesus would have none of it. He gave an incredibly clever and clear response when he asked for the coin and responded by asking whose image was on the coin. When they responded that it was Tiberius he made it clear that the coin belonged to the emperor so they should return it to the emperor.
This tax question was cause for much concern in the Jewish community because Jews were not to contribute to the pagan temples and some of the tax money was given to maintain those temples. Also, the Roman emperor, whose image was on the coin, was considered a deity by the Romans and many Jews objected to even handling the money.
At bible study this week the question was asked, “In our world today, who or what does “the emperor” represent and how do we determine what belongs to God and what belongs to the powers that be?”
It is a very good question. Some of the people in our study group said that if all things come from God then all things belong to God. I agree, but by the same token should we not make a contribution to the governmental entities that take care of our streets, our firefighters, our schools, and our police who answer our call when we feel unsafe.
What I do know is that the bible says we were made in God's likeness and image.(Genesis 1-27) and we are an important part of God's creation. I also know that in our baptism the priest says “you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own.”
Sherry and I live in a house that according to the law of the land we technically own. Occasionally people compliment us by saying that we have a nice home. My response is this. I say thank you and then I comment that I am the current caretaker of the house for the period that I live there and someday someone else will have that responsibility. All things are temporary whether they be Roman coins or brick houses. Our human bodies also have an expiration date. Our eternal soul was given to Christ at our baptism. Nothing is ours and all is His.
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