It isn’t surprising that on the heels of Jesus stinging critique
of the religious leaders of his day that they would seek to discredit him in
some way. Immediately following Jesus
re-telling of the parable of the tenants some Pharisees and Herodians show up
attempting to snare him in a legal technicality. In fact, the Greek word agreusosin is used only here in the New Testament, with its usage
elsewhere referring to the snaring of animals.
The hunt is on, and Jesus is the prey being stalked by the religious
elites of his day.
Their flattery is designed to force him into answering the
question they pose, and their desire for an answer is understandable. It would seem that they have cleverly
formulated a question that will put Jesus between the proverbial rock and a
hard place. If he says yes, that Jews
should pay taxes to Caesar, he is a collaborator with the Roman. If he says no, he is a revolutionary. Jesus’ choice is to be so unpopular as to
become irrelevant and thus of no threat to the establishment, or to become an
insurrectionist and thus a marked enemy of the state. It was six of one and half a dozen of the
other for Jesus’ enemies, who saw the end result being the same, the neutralization
of Jesus preaching and teaching.
What those opponents weren’t banking on however, was the
cleverness of Jesus’ response. Indeed,
Jesus responds is such a way that ultimately it is the Herodians and Pharisees
that are trapped. By asking for a
denarius, Jesus is showing that he doesn’t carry money, or at least not Roman
money. By providing it, his accusers are
showing that they carry and make use of Roman coinage. Before even attempting to answer the
question, Jesus has discredited those who asked it. The
coin would have been well-known because of its circulation in everyday use, as
is witnessed by their recognition of the image of Caesar. This is what the coin would have looked like:
(Courtesy of the Digital
Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory
University)
Jesus asks whose eikon,
or image, is on the coin. One side of
the coin would have read “Tiberius Caesar, son of divine Augustus”, while the
other would have said pontifex maximus,
referring to Caesar’s role as high priest of Rome. Tiberius reigned from 14-37 AD.
So it’s the emperor’s image. What does that mean for how Christians should
respond to political authority? Paul and
Peter, two of the most prominent apostles and leaders of the early church, both
instruct Christians to respect the governing authorities. They understood that peace and political
stability make for a good environment in which to preach the gospel. Paul traveled from Ephesus, to Corinth, to
Philippi, to Colossae, and eventually to Rome, on roads built and protected by
the Romans. As a citizen, he enjoyed
certain protections. In a sense, the
Roman Empire was a tool that God would use to help spread Christianity. And yet, Jesus is sure to differentiate
between the emperor and God. The emperor
needs your money and your loyalty, so it can be used to maintain, and even
expand his domains, his power. God
doesn’t need your money or your loyalty, but he desires your love. Caesar claims the coins in your pocket
because they bear his image, but God claims the person carrying those coins,
because that’s what bears the divine image.
Perhaps we should learn something from Jesus here. He isn’t interested in quibbling over money,
wealth, or material possessions.
Instead, he makes a statement about what truly matters,
relationships. When Christ looks at us,
he sees someone that bears the image of God, and he desperately wants us to
recognize that image in ourselves, and return the love and devotion that he
offers us continually.
“Almighty
God,
We
come to you, thankful for the grace and the mercy that you continually extend
to us. Help us to examine ourselves, and
to discern your image not in our appearance, but in our entire being. Help us to understand the depth of your love
for us, a love so deep that you would send even your own Son to not only call
us to repentance, but to die for us as well.
May we return to you the love and devotion that you show toward us each
and every day.
We
ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ,
Amen.”
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