The above verse is often cited in support of governmental authority. According to popular interpretation, this verse demonstrates that Jesus supported the authority of the state. Some argue that by drawing a distinction between the things that belong to God and the things that belong to the state, Jesus was refraining from challenging the state’s authority.

To the contrary, we have already seen in several articles how Jesus’ ministry opposed the authority of the state and the violence it rests on (see “The New Testament Promotes the Absolute Love of Enemies,” “Human Government is a Rejection of God,” “Satan is in Control of Human Goverments,” and “Romans 13, 1 Peter, and the Proper Relationship Between the Christian and the State”).

How, then, do we make sense of Jesus’ instructions to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…”? An examination of this passage within its proper context will reveal that rather than supporting governmental authority, Jesus was, in fact, challenging and limiting the scope of Caesar’s authority.

A Trick Question

An account of this story is found in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. All three versions of the story indicate that those who posed the question to Jesus were “spies,” Pharisees trying to trick Jesus and trap him in his words so that they would have a reason to arrest him. The following is the story as found in the book of Luke:

Luke 20:20-22: Keeping a close watch on him, they sent out spies who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Again, the spies wanted to trick Jesus and get him to say something that would incriminate him in the eyes of the authorities. They “pretended to be honest,” and attempted to flatter Jesus by acknowledging that he did not “show personal favoritism” and taught “the way of God in accordance with the truth.”

Jesus’ Answer

Jesus was aware of the Pharisees intentions, however, and boldly confronted them:

Luke 20:23-26: But he perceived their evil intentions and said to them, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He then said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. They were amazed by his answer, and became silent.

Any analysis of Jesus’ answer must begin with the observation that this was an answer to a trick question. Jesus refrained from giving a simple “yes” or “no,” but instead asked to see one of the coins. Why did Jesus need to see one of the coins? Certainly one wouldn’t need to see a coin in order to determine whether or not taxes should be paid. Instead of answering the question directly, Jesus was giving his opponents an object lesson. Once the coin was brought to Jesus, he asked who’s image was inscribed on the coin. Surely Jesus knew the answer, but he asked the question anyway, making sure that his point was clear to those questioning him. Once told that Caesar’s image was on the coin, he instructed them to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Luke wrote that the Pharisees were “amazed by his answer, and became silent.” What was so amazing about Jesus’ answer? As we stated, it was an object lesson. The coin bore the image of Caesar, therefore it belonged to Caesar. On the other hand, everything that bears God’s image belongs to God. What bears God’s image? We do!

If Caesar wants the coins, he can have them. In Matthew 6:19, Jesus instructed his followers to ignore the “treasures of this earth… which moth and rust destroy.” Caesar can have the treasures of this earth if he wants, what Christians are concerned with are treasures in heaven. Caesar can have the things which bear his image, but he has no right to what bears God’s image; he has no rights over us! Our loyalty, allegiance, and obedience belong to God, not Caesar. More importantly, Caesar has no right to take the life of a human being, because human beings bear the image of God, and therefore, belong to God.

The fact that Jesus instructed us to pay taxes does not indicate that such taxation is justified. In the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in both Matthew 5 and Luke 6, Jesus instructed his followers to give to those who steal from them. Jesus, however, was not condoning theft. He also instructed those who are punched on the right cheek to allow the persecutor to strike the other also. Jesus, however, was not condoning physical assault (For a full examination of Jesus’ teachings concerning the treatment of enemies, please read "The New Testament Promotes the Absolute Love of Enemies"). As stated above, Jesus’ kingdom is not concerned with the “treasures of this earth… which moth and rust destroy.” Whether it is Caesar or a petty thief, if someone wants the treasures of this earth, they can have them. Christians, on the other hand, are concerned with treasures in heaven.

Jesus Pays the Temple Tax

Jesus’ actions in Matthew 17 confirm our interpretation of his comments above. Here we read of how Peter was approached by the temple authorities, and was asked whether or not Jesus paid the temple tax.

Matthew 17:24-25: When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher pay the temple tax?” Peter answered, “Yes.”

As is common throughout the Gospels, Peter did not have a full understanding of Jesus' teachings, and answered too quickly. When he returned to the house, Jesus was waiting for him, and rebuked him:

Matthew 17:25-27: When he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What were you thinking? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for me and you.”

After Peter told the authorities that Jesus would pay the tax, Jesus responded by asking him “What were you thinking?” Jesus went on to explain that “the sons” of “the kings of the earth” are free because they do not have to pay taxes, and consequently, the “strangers” are not free because they do pay taxes. Clearly this is not a divine endorsement of taxation. Jesus’ indifference to the tax is clear: he wonders why Peter agreed to pay the tax; he tells Peter that those who are forced to pay taxes are not free; and finally, he reluctantly agrees to pay the tax only because Peter already agreed to do so, and Jesus did not want to “offend” those who pay the tax.

The way Jesus chose to pay the tax further emphasizes his indifference concerning the issue. Jesus’ miracles always served one of two purposes: his miracles either helped people or demonstrated a point. Jesus never performed miracles for the sake of performing miracles; Jesus never performed miracles just to show off. With this in mind, why did Jesus perform a miracle to pay the tax?

Jesus instructed Peter to go and catch a fish, any fish, and the exact amount of the tax would be found in the fish’s mouth. The miracle seems absurd and pointless, and it shows how absurd and pointless the issue is. The miracle reveals Jesus’ complete indifference to the issue of taxation, similar to the “Render to Caesar…” passage examined above: Caesar can have the treasures of this earth, they don’t matter. Who cares about taxes, he was able to get the money from a fish’s mouth!

Conclusion

These two stories show nothing more than Jesus’ indifferent attitude towards material concerns. As we examined above, in Matthew 5 and Luke 6 Jesus instructed his followers to give to those who steal from them. This is not an endorsement of theft, but advice for how to deal with our enemies. Caesar was certainly the enemy of the Jews. The Roman Empire had conquered and oppressed the Jewish people, consistently disrespected their religion, and burdened them with heavy taxes. Many Jews wanted to violently rebel (and they did several decades after Jesus’ death), but Jesus presented a different plan: Give Caesar the taxes he demands; allow Caesar to store up treasures of this earth, because we are storing up treasures in heaven.

Written by Matthew J. Truitt, Harmless As Doves Ministries

Should Christians Take Part in Courts of Law?

Early Christians Were Anti-War and Anti-State

	Web www.HarmlessAsDoves.com