Study, Pray, Serve: 29th Sunday of the Year

As we examine the readings for the 29th Sunday of the year, let's start with Matthew.

This is chapter 22, verses 15 to 21.

"The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.

They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

You are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.

Tell us, then, what is your opinion.

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?' Knowing their malice, Jesus said, 'Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.' Then they handed him the Roman coin.

He said to them, 'Whose image is this and whose inscription?' They replied, 'Caesar's.' At that he said to them, 'Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.'" Now if this is a new passage to you, you have to understand that it's a trap, that in asking this question in the political climate of the time, if Jesus says either yes or no to the actual question, he could be pushed on trumped up charges and condemned.

And here's why.

The Jewish people hate the Romans and they hate having to pay taxes to the Roman Empire.

They hate it.

The Romans are policing this area, and they need that money to pay their soldiers and keep the empire running.

So here's the trap.

If Jesus says, "Yes, it's lawful to pay the tax to Caesar, to Rome," then [laughs] the Herodians and the Pharisees, they're gonna run to the people and say, "This Jesus, he's a Roman supporter.

He doesn't love our people.

He's betraying us." So then the people are gonna rebel against Jesus and, and wipe him out.

But if Jesus says, "No, it's not lawful to pay the tax," then the Pharisees and the Herodians are gonna run to the Romans and say, "This guy is stirring up a rebellion, and he's gonna get these people all whipped up into a fury not to pay the tax, and then you're gonna have to expend all this effort.

You better wipe him out." So either if you say yes or no, the trap will be sprung and Jesus would suffer.

But this is the Lord, and he sidesteps the trap completely.

It's a lovely way to do it.

"Show me the coin that pays the tax.

Whose image?" "It's Caesar's." "Then give it to Caesar.

But what belongs to God, you give to God." So in avoiding the trap, Jesus also gives glory and praise to the Heavenly Father.

So it's clever, it's smart, it reveals the savvy that Jesus has in dealing with this very politically charged and emotionally intense climate, and yet at the same time remaining true to the mission to give glory and praise to the Father, and then ultimately to give his life for that glory that we might be restored.