More fool them, as we know that every time Jesus’ response and wisdom put them to flight and exposed their evil motives. As the Gospels record, Jesus was the master at the apt reply, and both amazed and confounded with his ability to think on his feet and handle his verbal jousters.
His response in today’s readings echoes down the centuries: ‘give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’. The Pharisees were ardent nationalists opposed to Roman rule, while the Herodians, as their name indicates, supported Roman rule. These opposing parties joined forces to trap Jesus. Their question – ‘Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?’ – was intended to catch him out. If he said ‘No’, the Herodians would report him to the Roman governor, and he risked being executed for treason. If he answered ‘Yes’, the Pharisees would denounce him as a traitor to the Jewish nation. Oh, what wicked webs men do weave!
The common Roman coin, the denarius, had a picture of the Emperor Tiberius on one side and on the other it carried the inscription ‘Tiberius Caesar Augustus son of the divine Augustus’. The coin was issued by Caesar and was used for paying tax to him. Jesus used it as a teaching aid to highlight that it was the duty of citizens to render to Caesar what was his and to God what was his, thus evading their trap and highlighting personal conscience. Each person has to decide to render unto Caesar what Caesar is due and to God what God is due.
The same is true for us today. We render to the State (Caesar) what the State is due but also render to God what God is due. Sometimes, however, matters of conscience arise which make this compliance impossible, and we need to make a stand – for example, regarding our opposition to abortion or assisted suicide. In fact, in these instances we resist the State, and both pray and work to change the minds and hearts to amend the law in the case of abortion but keep the present law in the case of assisted suicide.
Father, pour out the gift of your Spirit upon so us that I can walk in step with you and give an apt reply or wise counsel when challenged about my faith and my convictions.
