The Unspoken Inscription That Spoke Volumes
Reflective Reading: Matthew 22:15-22
Last Sunday I heard a sermon that gave new meaning to Matthew 22:15-22. I’d like to thank Pastor Kevin at Grace Road Church for his faithfulness to God’s Word and skillful communication of the meaning of the text that has inspired this article.
Let’s get right into the text:
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
The disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians have one goal—to entangle, trap, or ensnare Jesus in His words. The fact that the Pharisees and the Herodians are working together is laughable, for they are polarized in their beliefs and in opposition in their political views. They couldn’t be more opposite. You might say that they would be similar to our current day Democrats and Republicans.
Herod Antipas, who was ruling at this time, was placed in the position as Tetrarch over the Jews by Caesar Augustus and regarded mostly as a puppet ruler for Rome. His followers were not religious but served both Herod and Rome with allegiance in order to preserve their political privileges. So, for the Herodians and Pharisees to be joining forces is quite out of character. I can almost hear Peter, James, and John snickering in the background about this unholy alliance.
The Herodians know that Jesus is not going to give them an open invitation especially since Herod murdered his cousin John the Baptist. The Pharisees have already been shamed by Jesus publicly. They need to come up with a strategy that allows a dialogue with Jesus. Their strategy is a threefold approach of flattery as quoted above. The text says that Jesus is aware of their malice. Though He is aware of their wickedness, He uses this opportunity to teach those who are listening, and us, a very important lesson.
These malicious characters are trying to get Jesus to declare whether He is on the side of Rome or on the side of the Jews. The question is simple: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” They know if Jesus says yes, then the zealots will want to kill Him. If he says no, then the Romans will want to kill Him. If he says anything against the current Jewish government, then Herod will want to kill Him. They believe they have an ironclad trap.
Most people know the story. Jesus asks for a coin and then asks whose likeness and inscription is on the coin. Note that his request is for both the image and inscription. They respond by saying, “Caesar’s.” What they said was true, but there was more to the inscription than just Caesar’s name. Hold that thought for a moment. Jesus responds and says, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” His response seems simple and straightforward, but their response is totally unexpected: “When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.”
Why did they marvel and walk away speechless? What did Jesus say that was so profound? Let’s dig deeper.
The Jews were under Roman rule as I’ve pointed out. Regardless of their political views, biblically they were not only to obey the laws of the land, but they were to pay taxes. This irritated the Jews greatly, just as it irritates some Christians today to pay taxes that supports godless and immoral government funded organizations.
They were not expecting Jesus to give this response. He brought them back to a biblical world view about government. God had previously established rules for how his people were to submit to a foreign power when they were overtaken as a nation. In Jeremiah 29:4-7 we read:
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
The text above was God’s standard for living in an evil and immoral land. They were to build houses, plant gardens, marry amongst each other, have children, and most important, “pray to the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof you will have peace.” The Jews were obviously not seeking the peace of Rome nor praying for Rome’s prosperity. They were so focused on the politics of the day that they completely fell away from what was most important—their worship of God! They became so antagonistic toward Rome’s rule that they detested paying taxes that would support something they didn’t believe in. Jesus’ response speaks volumes regarding a believer’s support of an anti-God government. We are to pay taxes to the government that God established, whether good or evil. The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote to the church at Rome:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour (Romans 13:1-7).
During a polarizing political climate, Jesus doesn’t deal with the godless government (both Herod and Rome). There was something far more important to focus on—the image and the inscription! It is the inscription that is going to silence his tempters and turn them away speechless.
Do you remember what image they saw when they produced the coin? They said it was Caesar’s. There were other coins during that day; some with the image of Herod the Great or Herod the Tetrarch and a few others. For some reason they produced a coin with the image and inscription of a Roman. It is even possible that this coin had an image of both Herod and the Roman emperor on the front and back, which was common in those days.
When Jesus says give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar he is focusing solely on the image of Caesar. But when he says give to God what belongs to God, I believe the inscription is now in view. What does the inscription say? The inscription reads: Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus. This title claimed that Augustus had become a god. Caesar Augustus had claimed to be eternally divine as well as high priest. Two weeks after he minted these coins with this inscription, he was found dead!
The Jews had become so focused on Rome’s political oppression that they neglected their obligations to the God of heaven. Jesus was teaching them to submit to the government with their resources but submit to God with their lives. And just as Herod the Great and Augustus Caeser tried to take the place of God, they learned that the consequences of such folly was costly. The Jews were so preoccupied and consumed with the political climate of the day, they completely forgot about the rules of God and their relationship with him. They got the message—“When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.”—and I imagine, under great conviction.
What can we learn from this story? Don’t allow politics to govern your lives. Recognize that governments are established by God, both the good and bad. Don’t elevate your image or anyone else’s image; but give allegiance to God alone. Pay your taxes, build your homes, have children, build businesses, do good, and pray for the peace and prosperity of your government—and give to God, what belongs to God.
Blessings,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading and Listening:
Jill’s Red Bag book/audiobook(Ages 6+)
The Shiny Coin book (Ages 6+)
The Inheritance book (Ages 6+)
The Mansion book (Ages 9+)
Basket of Flowers book/dramatic audio (Ages 9+)
The Wanderer book/dramatic audio (Ages 9+)
