Watching for a chance to get him, they sent spies who posed as honest inquirers, hoping to trick him into saying something that would get him in trouble with the law. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re honest and straightforward when you teach, that you don’t pander to anyone but teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He knew they were laying for him and said, “Show me a coin. Now, this engraving, who does it look like and what does it say?” “Caesar,” they said. Jesus said, “Then give Caesar what is his and give God what is his.” Try as they might, they couldn’t trap him into saying anything incriminating. His answer caught them off guard and left them speechless.
Luke 20:20–26
As we saw in Gem 1156, Luke follows the pattern of Mark and now adds the pericope of Paying Taxes to Caesar followed by Whose Wife will She Be?
Mark | Luke |
---|---|
By What Authority | By What Authority |
Parable of the Vineyard | Parable of the Vineyard |
The Rejected Corner Stone | The Rejected Corner Stone |
Paying Tax to Caesar | Paying Tax to Caesar |
Whose wife will she be? | Whose wife will she be? |
Which is the Greatest Commandment? | |
How is He his son? |
Remember what I told you in Gem 1152 the nature of the claims that surround Jesus, not just by Jesus Himself, but by virtue of what the crowd are saying, has to be addressed. In the minds of the High Priests and leaders, this is both a problem for Judaism and a problem for their relationship with the Roman occupation forces. The Romans were careful to avoid any threat to their rule. If there was a hint of a usurper to their control and a threat to the sovereignty of the Roman Caesar, then such a threat would be dealt with severely. Namely, by crucifixion. Do you indeed see where this is heading?
Notice the opening line above. “Watching for a chance to get him, they sent spies who posed as honest inquirers, hoping to trick him into saying something that would get him in trouble with the law.” These High Priests, teachers of the Law, Pharisees and religious leaders in Jerusalem have been intent on trapping Jesus. Like other times they shadow Him around the city seeking to trap Him. Posing as inquirers asking reasonable questions which will ultimately get Jesus in trouble with the Roman occupying forces. They wish to get rid of Him, to kill Him. We have already been warned about that. Neither the temple authorities nor the Sanhedrin have the power to condemn Him to death. For that they need the authority of the Roman authorities.
This segment continues the discussion of authority. If they can’t trap Him in terms of the religious authority as to the basis on which He cleansed the Temple, then they try to entice Him to speak a word against the Roman authorities. We will investigate the details of that encounter in the next Gem. It is clear now they were trying every way they knew to entice Jesus to trap himself. The question is carefully framed to trap Him either way He answers it. But we will deal with that in due course.
Note too that with this challenge and the one that follows it, the interest groups divide in order to trap Him with their own specialist areas or topics. Take your time to investigate both pericopes before we begin to pull apart the issue of paying taxes to Caesar. Of course this topic has application for us all in this day and age. The Jews were attempting to trap Jesus between the secular authorities or the religious authorities. Either way they were sure they had Him.
The issue of paying taxes to secular authorities applies to us all in this modern age. Should we follow the Law of God or should we follow the law of the land? A question all of us need to address.
Don’t change the channel. Stay tuned for the details to follow.
Godliness is a devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to Him.
Jerry Bridges
Every time you feel like doing the wrong thing and you choose to do the right thing, you are growing—and God is smiling.
Joyce Meyer
The Devil tempts that he may ruin and destroy; God tests that He may crown.
St. Ambrose
Remember that God owns everything. Your name may be on the account, but don’t get any wrong ideas.
Bob Gass