Making Cents of Jesus: The Things That Are God's

Bible Dig continues an ongoing, in depth series on the Pharisees & Essenes - two influential Jewish sects at the time of Christ. After spending several installments on the background and beliefs of these two groups, we wrap up our study and come full circle to apply what we've learned from the background of the text to the question about paying taxes. To see the panorama of BibleDig info on this topic, check out the BibleDig 360: Pharisees & Essenes.

A Taxing Problem

With a deeper understanding of the nature of these Jewish parties, their resistance to Hellinization, and their conflicts with the rich ruling class, we can now approach the passage where Jesus is confronted with two puzzling riddles regarding the paying of taxes and hope to gain further insight. Let us first examine the question on taxes.

Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (Matthew 22:15-17 NET)

The first thing to note what two parties are working together to entrap Jesus. The Pharisees along with the Herodians (members of the rich class that supported Roman rule). The fact that these two parties, who in all other cases would be in complete opposition to each other, are now working cooperative to catch Jesus in own words reveals a couple of things.

First, it shows us just how disruptive and disturbing Jesus’ message was perceived to be by both sides. Jesus was neither a Pharisee nor a member of the social, Hellenized elite. His teaching may have had common points with both groups, but both groups perceived him to be so dangerous to their respective causes that they were willing to cooperate against this common ideological foe.

Second, it reveals that they anticipated Jesus being unable to respond to their querry without offending either one of the other of these groups so they ensured representatives of both parties were present so the one offended by Jesus’ answer could duly report Jesus’ remark to their collogues. An understanding of the Jewish cultural background at work in the subtext of this confrontation helps us appreciate Jesus' tricky position.

Another thing to consider is the underling subtext of this conversation in light of the tension surrounding the matter of Roman rule. In our time, many at first glance consider this to be a question strictly about the legality of paying taxes to the government. To the first century mind, taxes were a form of tribute. The question posed to Jesus is a loaded one. If Jesus says yes to the notion of paying taxes, then he alienates the masses – who were largely followers of the Pharisic tradition – and he is no longer a popular hero. If Jesus says no to the notion of paying taxes to Caesar, then the Herodians can report him to the civil authorities for inciting the masses to revolt against the government. This is a taxing delma, indeed!

The Things That Are Gods

Jesus’ answer is brilliant. With it he manages to expose this yes or no question as a false dichotomy. He also reveals to all those present a significant way his message differs from that of both the Pharisees and Herodians.

But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:18-22 NET)

Rather than having a public relations field day with a blundering answer from Jesus, both parties are “stunned.” Jesus sees the trap. In the minds of the Jew, the question of obedience to civil government and obedience to God was an either or question. That is the false dichotomy Jesus exposes.

The Pharisees taught that the only way to remain righteous and obedient to God and his law was to separate themselves from the world. Jesus tells them that we can in fact live within a culture that opposes our beliefs and still fulfill God’s requirements of us because what God requires is not an outward show of piety but an inward attitude of the heart that offers itself in worship him. Likewise to the aristocrats who placed all their value on maintaining the status quo with the Romans Jesus remarks that wealth is not all there is. The money in your pocket really belongs to Ceasar and he can recall it to himself at will. Likewise, God is the giver of life, and as people who bear his image must return our lives to him.

This incident is not recorded in Scripture merely to satisfy our curiosity. It addresses a larger issue. Like the Jews, we in our time face the question of how to interact with our society. The question of the tax - and Jesus' handling of it - challenges us not resort the the abuse of power and materialism of the Herodians. It also warns us to avoid the temptation to segregate ourselves from our world like the Pharisees.

We can live and work among our world (give to Ceasar) and we can fulfill the obligations of our faith (give to God) at the same time. Earthly governments relate to earthly things and want our earthly resources. In contrast, "the things that are God's" are the parts of us that belong to him - our hearts, souls, minds and strength. God doesn't want your money. He requires something much deeper and more valuable. He wants every part of who you are.

Making Cents of Jesus Part 2: The Rise of the Pharisees and Essenes

Dig in: Matthew 22:15-22

We've been looking at important Jewish political parties active during Jesus' ministry, the Pharisees and the Essenes. These two groups influenced Jesus' teaching because of their influence on the thinking of the average Jew at the time of Christ and because of their vocal opposition to Jesus in the gospels. Read more in part 1 - Making Cents of Jesus.

Two Groups, One Cause

What were to later become the separate parties known in Jesus’ day as the Pharisees and the Essenes began as factions within Jewish society that were reacting to increasing pressure on the chosen people to leave their traditional ways and adopt a Greek way of life. These pressures started with the exile of the Jews by the Babylonians, and continued to build throughout the time of the Old Testament and the years between the Old Testament and the New Testament. These conservative factions, which vigorously believed in maintaining obedience to the laws of God without compromise, were identified by the name Hasidaeans meaning “pious ones.”

The Hasidaeans emerged as a somewhat organized political entity as a response to this pressure to shed the traditions that made them uniquely Jewish in order to blend in with the nations that conquered them. The encroachment of Greek culture on the Jewish world was forcefully started by the conquests of Alexander the Great. His dream was to unite the peoples of east and west under one government and one culture. Greek language, religion, and ideals were introduced into the east for the first time.

Alexander’s untimely death led to centuries of social and political instability as Alexander’s four generals and their descendants jockeyed for control of the vast empire. Often the Jews were caught in the middle. Between 323 BC and 301 BC alone, Palestine changed hands six times. The opening verses of First Maccabees (which is a very useful historical document for understanding this period of Jewish history) describe these tumultuous years after Alexander:

And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died. Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth. (1 Macc 1:7-9)

As troubling as this protracted era of war and unrest was to the Jews, especially to those who wished to maintain the practice of the laws and religion, their situation would grow much worse under the rule of an angry king who called himself Epiphanes meaning, “god manifest” – Antiochus IV.

Next time...What Antiochus did to spark a war for independence, and cause a split in the Hasidaeans that would result in the Pharisees and Essenes...

This is part of a series looking at the origins and nature of two important Jewish political parties active during Jesus' ministry, the Pharisees and the Essenes. To see the panorama of BibleDig info on this topic, check out the BibleDig 360: Pharisees & Essenes.

Making Cents of Jesus: The tax question and two groups you need to meet.

Dig in: Matthew 22:15-22

There are some dates on the calendar that bring a feeling of anticipation. Christmas. A birthday. An anniversary. Tax Day is not one of them. This year, on April 15^th, a number of Americans voiced their displeasure in paying their taxes at a series of “Tea Parties” held across the country. Many lawmakers (especially Republican lawmakers) faced tense interviews on television and radio as reporters asked them if they believed in paying taxes or not. These lawmakers were not the first public figures to face such a deceptively simple question about the legality of taxation.

Jesus once faced a tricky riddle on the matter of whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the oppressive Roman government of his day. And like our day, various parties were looking closely to Jesus’ answer to the question. For us to understand the nature of Jesus’ reply - and to have a balanced perspective on Jesus' teaching in the gospels overall - we must understand the nature of the various political / religious parties who prompted so much of Jesus' teaching.

These first century parties can be roughly placed into two groups, those that sought to work toward the protection of Jewish interests in the midst of society by maintaining the status quo between the Jewish masses and the Roman government, such as the Sadducees and the Herodians, and those who sought ways to maintain Jewish identity by separating themselves to keep themselves pure from society, among them the Pharisees and Essenes. Though particular parties may have found commonality in their response to the culture of Palestine with others parties, they did not always work cooperatively. Those parties which differed in their level of willingness to engage or “taint” themselves with society fostered deep, long-lasting animosity toward one another.

In the next few posts, we'll be digging into some background information on two of these Jewish socio-religious parties, the Pharisees and the Essenes. While the precise origins of the Pharisees and Essenes are unclear, it appears that they share common roots that provide insight into their belief in the necessity of maintaining a pious distance from the evils of what they viewed as a corrupt world ripe for the judgment of God. In order to understand their reaction to the culture in Jesus’ time, we must examine their roots in the years of political and social upheaval leading up to the time of Christ.

Next time...we'll explore the rise of the Pharisees and Essenes during the time between the Old and New Testaments...

This is part of a series looking at the origins and nature of two important Jewish political parties active during Jesus' ministry, the Pharisees and the Essenes. To see the panorama of BibleDig info on this topic, check out the BibleDig 360: Pharisees & Essenes.