Jesus conducted the majority of his ministry in Galilee. The reception that the religious authorities gave him reveals why he waited so long to come to Jerusalem.
The Pharisees joined forces with people sympathetic to Herod in an attempt to trap Jesus and condemn him.
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him 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 Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22.15-17).
When the Romans began their rule over Israel, they imposed a poll tax. This tax was fiercely resisted by patriotic Jews and even resulted in a revolt led by Judas.
As a Galilean, Judas shared a similar background with Jesus, who also claimed to be the leader of the people. It’s understandable why the poll tax would have been a means to trap Jesus.
As a Galilean under Herod’s jurisdiction, Jesus was not subject to this tax. His opponents reasoned that he could give an objective opinion without his political status being affected.
However, a negative answer would have been used to denounce him to the Roman authorities, and a positive answer would have made the crowd in Jerusalem angry.
Jesus’ Amazing Response
I’m sure the crowd listening to Jesus teach in the courtyard of the temple was very interested in his response.
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. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?”
They answered, “Caesar’s.”
Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22.18-20).
The coin that the religious leaders desired featured a portrait of the Emperor and an inscription declaring him as the son of god.
Rome permitted a different copper coin for everyday use in Israel, as the original coin was offensive to the Jews. However, it appears that the Pharisees had the offensive coin in their possession.
It is reasonable to think that if the Pharisees could carry around the idolatrous coin, they shouldn’t object to paying the tax.
Jesus also taught that it is possible to pay our dues to both the Emperor and to God, to be a dutiful citizen and a loyal servant of God.
On a deeper level, to give back to the Roman emperor indicated either a return of something borrowed or the payment of what was due. Jesus saw the tax not as an arbitrary imposition, but as a due payment for the benefits received from the imperial government, which the Pharisees must have acknowledged by using the imperial currency.
Giving back to God what is God’s is similar to what Jesus had earlier taught in the parable of the vineyard, which focuses on the importance of giving back what God has entrusted to us. See Matthew 21:33-41.
The Pharisees were unsuccessful in their attempt to trap Jesus and left his presence amazed at his words.
When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away (Matthew 22.22).
Personal Application
I recently read Psalm 81 during my morning prayer time. The key verses of the Psalm focus on listening to God.
But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
O that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways! (Psalm 81.11-13)
I’m sure you join me and don’t want to be like the religious authorities in Jesus’ day whose hearts were “stubborn.” They were consigned to “follow their own counsels.”
Instead, we need to hear the Lord’s appeal and listen to his voice. The Psalm emphasizes the truth about listening to God. Listening always involves submitting to the Lord and walking in his ways.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 