22 Pentecost A, Proper 24, October 19, 2008
St. James, Zanesville
Kathryn P. Clausen

Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22

“God and Caesar”

This famous parable about rendering to Caesar that which is his appears in all three of the synoptic Gospels- Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is a subtle and remarkably intelligent response by Jesus to a plot by Pharisees to entrap him by his own words. In this story, the Pharisees team up with the Herodians in their scheming. They didn’t particularly like each other, so they are kind of strange bedfellows. The Pharisees were strict legalists and interpreters of Jewish law. They chafed under Roman rule and would have resisted paying taxes to Rome if they could. The Herodians were associated with the half-Jewish king Herod, and were Roman collaborators. They were slavishly committed to their Roman superiors. I guess they had a strong instinct for survival. In most things the Herodians and Pharisees despised each other. But they were united in their fear and hatred of this upstart Jesus, who entered Jerusalem in triumph and presumed to teach in the temple. He was a threat to their authority and influence. He had been making very provocative, pointed, and offensive statements about the Pharisees in his stories about the disloyal tenants and ungrateful wedding guests. He had been pronouncing God’s judgement against them for their hypocricy and hard-heartedness. In their view, he had to be stopped. What better way than to trap him with his own words? So they devised a question to him that had no right answer. However he might respond, he would be condemned. Because, in the eyes of the Pharisees, tribute to Rome was blasphemy. It took away the tribute that they felt rightly belonged to God. Roman rulers thought that they were divine, so demanding the holy tribute simply forced the subject Jews to acknowledge that. If Jesus affirmed the lawfulness of Roman taxes, in Jewish eyes he would be committing blasphemy against God. If he denied it, he would be advocating treason against Roman rule, a dangerous and seditious stand punishable by death, Roman style. They thought this time they had him for sure, and that he would be discredited and arrested no matter how he answered.

But Jesus turned the question on its ear, and sent the questioners away in stunned silence. By making a distinction between God and Caesar, he defended God’s prerogative and appeared to capitulate to Roman authority. But in actuality, he did not. When Jesus requested to see the denarius, he was asking for a Roman coin. This was the coin that was used specifically to pay taxes. It had Caesar’s image. It belonged to Rome. The Greek word that was used in Jesus’ reply wasn’t exactly “give or render” to the emperor, but rather “return to the emperor that which is his”. It conceded nothing about taking authority from God. It was simply to give it back.

This parable has often been cited as sort of a “God and country” theme. It has sometimes been used to justify abandoning Christian principles out of loyalty to government authority or to abandon duties of citizenship in the name of God when there is a conflict of ideals. The trick, of course, is determining what is properly Caesar’s and what is properly God’s. That is not always clear.

But there can be a different view of Jesus’ response. When we accept protection and support from someone, we incur a debt of obligation and have a commitment of loyalty. The Jews chafed under Roman rule, but were ruled nonetheless. They enjoyed Roman protection and economic advantage, though at the cost of their independence and autonomy. The higher price was the loss of their dignity. They had to acknowledge, at least by lip service, that Caesar was divine. By returning the Roman coin to Rome, Jesus is suggesting a way out, a means of recapturing their dignity by returning the money to its source. It was hypothetical, of course, because Rome wouldn’t let go that easily, but it was symbolic of a spirit of independence. Compliance with Roman taxation was actually a means of casting off Roman authority. Just return the coins to them. But remain loyal to God only. It is a lesson in integrity.

We all face choices in this life. The older we get, the more we accumulate. And I am sure many of us have made decisions in the past that we might look back on with some regret. I certainly have. Should I have questioned that military order? Did I really have to go along with the corporate policy in that contract? Do I always have to accept the authority of the bishop when there is something that seems not right about the deal? We are all under authority of some sort or another- the authority of government, the authority of our employers, the authority of the church. Honoring that authority is part of our duty as responsible citizens, or employees, or clergy. If we questioned it at every turn, there would be chaos. Pretty soon the monkeys would be running the zoo. We have to accept that those in authority usually know what they are doing and that following them keeps our country and institutions on track. But authority must be earned, not just imposed by force of arms or tyranny, whether by governments or institutions. We are not robots or automatons. We have seen what happens in cultures where authority is never questioned. It is not a pretty sight.

As Christians, we respond to a higher authority. That is why you and I are here in this church. We listen to the Word of God as proclaimed in the Gospels, and we seek closer union with God each time we take Communion. That does not end when we walk out this door. We cannot abandon our Christian values and principles because they might be overruled by our superiors who may have authority over us. We are not a subject people. With gratitude to our founding fathers, we are free and capable of making our own decisions. By our baptism and commitment to God, we have accepted Him as our source of inspiration and authority.

During this season of stewardship, we have to make choices about what to do with our time and treasure. This is especially difficult when times are tight like now. We can use our resources for investment, to grow our riches, or we can enhance our style of living. We will use some to pay taxes. But we can also commit some of it to the work of the Lord. When you give to the church, it is tax deductible. In that sense, you are choosing God over Caesar. I suspect you all do your duty to the tax man, so this will not seriously undercut the vital programs of government. But there is something to be said for setting something aside for the work of the church. For many of you, it is as important as family, or health care, or your home. In many respects, it is all of these. Think hard and pray about what is important in your life and give accordingly. Only you can decide this.

We are a lucky people. We have been shown a higher path and offered the opportunity to take it. When we accept our responsibilities as citizens or employees or any other relationship where there is authority above us, we must interpret our duties through Christian eyes. “What would Jesus do?” We will carry out our duties, but hopefully in a manner that reflects the compassion and love that we have been taught by Jesus himself. Challenging authority is not necessarily disloyal. It may be very responsible. It might be your Christian duty. Amen.