Render Unto Caesar What Is Caesar's?

In this week's lectionary reading in Matthew 22:15-22, we stumble into the first of three tests put to Jesus.  Every three years like clockwork, this text arrives.  Some leaders choose to be on vacation.  Some choose another reading to focus on.  Some make this the Sunday where stewardship is discussed.  All things that are fine.  But yet I find myself truly falling in love with these words for the first time, because sometimes, context changes everything.

#1 - In A.D. 6, a poll tax had been imposed.  As one might imagine, this caused an uprising and war.  One of the key leaders of this rebellion was a man named Judas from Galilee, and so you can understand when a new man from Galilee appears on the scene - that the Pharisees and Herodians want to know who he is and what he's really about.  Is he just another Galilean coming to insight an uprising and rebellion in Judea? Or is he something more?

#2 - A silver denarius carries the image of the emperor - as well as the notation on the coin that calls the emperor a son of the gods.  Carrying around such coins would directly violate God's commandments.  The government of the day was incredibly "gracious" to God's people as they were allowed to coin their own copper money and carry it.  These copper coins were of lesser value but would more than suffice for every day business and needs.  This is key to understand because Jesus asked these leaders to produce a coin.  They. had. one.   Jesus calls a spade a spade.  If these religious leaders were really so concerned with what belonged to God..?  So Jesus tells them - fine.  If you want to use the idolatrous coins and participate in his system - how can you object to pay his tax?  Jesus calls the hypocritical nature for what it is.

#3 - Even in spite of the hypocrisy, for those who are truly wrestling with this subject, Jesus answers with a deep wisdom.  Again - understanding culture is key.  While it may seem obvious to us that we can be both a citizen and serve God, that we can participate in healthy ways in government and honor God simultaneously - this was not something that was widely understood.  It's become a part of our DNA so it's obvious to us (as we read more in Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17), but it wasn't to Jesus' first listeners.  First - it's important to understand that most of us have not ever lived in an occupied country.  We don't know what it's like to truly have our freedom taken away, our culture stolen, and aspects of our lives dictated.  Second - the theology that was deeply held throughout our studying of the Old Testament (and of course continues throughout all of Scripture), is that God is in charge.  Even when there were brief periods where God's people were under pagan rule in years gone by, the people could still see and proclaim that even in those times, those leaders were accountable to God.  But the 400 years of silence leading up to the time of Jesus seemed to change everything.  No longer could people see that God was still in charge.  They felt themselves bereft in their own culture, hostages, and at a loss for identity with occupying forces dictating their every move.  Jesus opens their eyes and reminds them of the words found in Jeremiah 29.  At that time, God's people refused to enter the city they had been displaced to, to participate in life as they had been conquered.  They wanted to maintain their unique identity as holy and set apart.  But in Jeremiah 29, God reminded them that they could still do that.  He was calling them to do that.  But He was calling them to do that in the city, amongst the people.  For if the city they were to live in would flourish, so too would they.  For God had a plan.  Even when the people couldn't see it, He was still King.  When all hope seemed lost, God spoke the loving words: "I know the plans I have for you...plans for a welfare, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you."  God was calling His people to be salt and light, to bear His image, to speak truth right where they were.  Jesus calls the people to do the same.  And that call now extends to us.

Jesus presents another facet of what it means to truly follow Him.  If this teaching is difficult, the road to the cross is even more so.  But Jesus will not allow people to forget the promise of God.  The tomb stands empty to proclaim the fear and shame that is conquered, the sin forgiven, the freedom won, and the death swallowed up in victory of the promises of God.