Demand #43 – Render to Caesar the Things that are Caesar’s and to God the Things that are Gods
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle [ Jesus] in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying . . . “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.”—Matt. 22:15-21
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Gen. 1:27
These verses in Matthew are probably my favorite response from Jesus to a question. His answer is short but profound. Since this exchange occurred in the first century we know that the Jews were living under the Romans totalitarian rule. The coin they likely brought to Jesus would have had Tiberius Caesar’s head on it with an inscription claiming a divine ancestry from Augustus and it probably had the empress on the other side as the high priest of the Roman religion. So the coin was blasphemous and promoted emperor worship.
The Trap
The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus in a political conflict. The Jews wanted the pagan Romans out of Israel. Even paying taxes had become a religious offense with the blasphemous inscription and the cult of the emperor. So if Jesus says to pay tax then His popularity fades and if he says not to pay taxes then He is a revolutionary and He would be quickly executed.
Jesus calls them hypocrites so that they know He knows their motives. They wouldn’t attempt to answer the question. Jesus said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” So 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” (Matt. 22:17-21).
Jesus’ answer was brilliant. It was truth and cut right to the heart of the issues involved. Scripture says that when they, both Pharisees and Herodians, heard the answer they marveled and when away. Whose likeness is this? Caesar’s and so where is God’s likeness? Male and female created in His image. So go give the coin to Caesar and give that with God’s image on it to Him. And Caesar, you claim to be a god and all you can make is a little stamped piece of metal with a poor copy of your face on one side and your wife on the other. They can’t draw a breath or make a noise or even think of their creator but God’s creations can praise Him and know that He is God in all the fullness of what it means to be eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. Jesus put Caesar in his place, God in His place, and the listeners in theirs. The hypocrites went away with admiration. They may have been snakes and vipers but they recognized genius on that day.
The Unexpected, Penetrating Answer
It is one of those times (and there are many) when we wish we could have watched and listened. The expressions on the Pharisees and Herodians would have been fascinating. Half way through the answer the Pharisees would be thinking they had Jesus and He would never be popular with the people. The Herodians would have been thinking that He was no revolutionary. Then after the second half of the answer they Pharisees would be thinking they had just heard the most brilliant and Godly response possible and the Herodians would have wrinkled brows wondering what that last part meant.
Rendering to Caesar Is Rendering to Jesus, or It Is Treason
It is important for us to realize that God demands all. Some of us think He demands 10% and that we can negotiate a better deal but He demands 100%. Jesus has absolute authority over all things. He is above all other rulers. When He died Jesus chose to die. He said, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18). After His resurrection He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18). We don’t yet fully see Jesus rule manifested but that is no excuse for us who know Him to forget that He has all authority.
Consequently we need to be careful when we submit to authorities to submit as unto Jesus because otherwise we are living as if we are committing treason. The reason I say this is because we often view government as independent of Jesus. If you obey them as if they are independent then how are you in submission to Christ? We need to submit to government while realizing that they are under the control of God. If the Church in the first century could do this then we clearly should be able to manage it. We whine but no one I know has been thrown to the lions (literally) recently.
There Is No Authority Except What Is Given from Above
We respond to all subordinate authorities (Government, Work, Church, and in your role in the home) because ultimately we see their authority as God ordained. So the two errors are to reject authority and ultimately your rebellion is against God or to submit to authority without acknowledging the truth that they are instituted by God. Jesus said even to Pilate, who seemed to have authority over Him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Human authority is legitimate but not absolute. We need to realize that the danger we face from wicked corrupt governments is not nearly as great as the danger we face from our rebellious nature. The Caesar inside of us is way more dangerous than the Caesar’s outside of us. As wicked as Caesar was and as unjust as some Roman actions were they still never sent one person to hell.
When I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America then I’m thankful I’m allowed to say, “one nation, UNDER GOD”. Since I was only babbling on June 14, 1954, I can thank Dwight D. Eisenhower and a Presbyterian Minister from Scotland named Docherty that I’ve never been called on to take that pledge in any other way.
Demand #44 – Render to Caesar the Things that are Caesar’s as an Act of Rendering to God What is God’s
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle [ Jesus] in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying . . . “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.”—Matt. 22:15-21
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. – Romans 13:1-7
Jesus demands absolute allegiance. All our other allegiances are subordinate to this supreme allegiance to Jesus as the King of kings.
When Caesar Demands What God Forbids
What do we do when Caesar tells us to sin? Typically we go the extra mile in submission to earthly authorities but not when they tell us to sin. We have great Scriptural and Historical examples. For example, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who faced the fiery furnace rather than worship a false god. Historically we have Polycarp in the first century who was in his late 80s when he refused to say “Away with the Atheists” indicating that Christians were atheists for refusing to worship pagan gods. Polycarp waved his hands at the people seated in the stadium seats who rejected Christ and said, “Away with the atheists.” He was martyred for that.
Jesus told the Church that they would face persecution and a test of loyalty to Him above any loyalty to government. Jesus said, “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake . . . some of you they will put to death” (Luke 21:12, 16). So we don’t render to Caesar everything that Caesar thinks is Caesar’s. Most of the martyrs faced this distinction.
We Submit to Caesar to Acknowledge the Supreme Lordship of Jesus
We are obedient to Caesar because Jesus is Lord and Jesus told us to be obedient to Caesar. Our obedience doesn’t put earthly rulers in an exalted position but rather it puts Christ in an exalted position. So, although we are submissive toward authority, it is because the second line supervisor tells us to be submissive.
How Jesus’ Authority Shapes Our Disobedience to Caesar
In civil disobedience, Jesus was disobedient at times when faced with demands that were sinful or simply outside the authority granted by God. Jesus himself did not comply with Herod’s demands (Luke 23:9) or Pilate’s demands (Mark 15:5) or the demands of the high priest (Matt. 26:62-63). We can see what His civil disobedience looked like in Scripture.
Shaping Civil Disobedience by the Demands of Jesus
Jesus demands in other portions of Scripture will change the way we would express civil disobedience. Jesus said, You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. . . . And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (Matt. 5:38-42) This seems very passive but then He said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. . . . You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This requires and active love seeking the good of your enemy.
When Love for One Demands Resistance to Another
So if you won’t give because of selfishness and fear then you need to be broken by Jesus words and go the extra mile. But passive compliance is not the only form of love. It could just be cowardice. Love has to weigh the claims of justice and mercy of all the folks involved. Then, at times, love may drive the money-changers from the temple (Mark 11:15).
The Greatest Battle Is to Be Brokenhearted in Our Resistance
So our civil disobedience can’t be motivated by fear, vindictiveness, or selfishness. We live for others. We live for both oppressors and the oppressed. We pray for the oppressor. We do good to them within our ability but we still protect the oppressed and threatened. We work for ending abortion and yet pray for and love those who continue down that road. We speak out against racism and speak the truth in love to racists. We don’t necessarily even look like we are practicing civil disobedience. It isn’t the laws of our land that are the biggest hurdle. The biggest hurdle is getting our hearts right and becoming Christ like in our disobedience. Men raised up by God have cleared this hurdle by the Grace of God and we can too.
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