Tax Day!

Good Morning! And “happy Tax Day” … or maybe not so happy tax day.

Matthew 22:15-22 (Contemporary English Version)
Paying Taxes
(Mark 12.13-17; Luke 20.20-26)
15The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong. 16They sent some of their followers and some of Herod's followers [a] to say to him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. 17Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?" 18Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said, "Why are you trying to test me? You show-offs! 19Let me see one of the coins used for paying taxes." They brought him a silver coin, 20and he asked, "Whose picture and name are on it?"
21"The Emperor's," they answered.
Then Jesus told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God." 22His answer surprised them so much that they walked away.

Footnotes:
a. Matthew 22:16 Herod's followers: People who were political followers of the family of Herod the Great (see 2.1) and his son Herod Antipas (see 14.1), and who wanted Herod to be king in Jerusalem

I know very few people who enjoy paying taxes. Imagine being under the rule of a foreign power and having to pay taxes to them. Well, the Pharisees knew the Jewish people really hated to pay taxes to Rome. Things weren’t going well for the Pharisees. This Jesus guy was gaining quite a following and, try as they might, they just couldn’t discredit Him. So they hatched a plan to entangle Jesus in His words. They thought they could put Jesus in a box. If He said to pay the tax, He would lose popularity. If He said to not pay the tax, they could let the Roman ruler know that Jesus was teaching sedition. Either way, this Jesus would be history… or so they thought.

What the Pharisees didn’t understand was that Jesus already knew what they were thinking. Remember, Jesus is not just a man – He is God, made flesh. He could see within the scheming heart of mankind and figure out what the true intent was. That is why Jesus asked the Pharisees why they were testing Him and called them “hypocrites”. (I don’t like the CEV rendering here – “showoffs” just isn’t the same as “hypocrites”.) Jesus knew that these guys were in league with not only the Herodians but also the Romans so they could keep their power over the people.

So what does Jesus mean when He tells them to give the Emperor what belongs to him and God what belongs to God? Well, Rome did provide some benefits to the people of Israel. Prior to Roman rule, they had been under Greek domination. And prior to that, they had been captives of the Assyrians and Babylonians. It had been a long time since Israel was truly a free nation. History tells us that Roman rule, while tough, was preferable to any of those that preceded them. Rome brought highways and aqueducts. They brought order. And they brought peace. All these things were costly – and they were due some payment.

What the Pharisees really needed to hear, though, was to give to God what belonged to God. What does God deserve from the Pharisees … or from any of His people? What does God deserve from us? I am sure we could make a long list of many things that we owe God – but I truly believe what He really wants is His most precious treasure. So, as you are rendering what belongs to our “Caesar” on this tax day, don’t forget to give God what belongs to Him … YOU.

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi

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