14th May 2010

Mark 12:13-17 – Paying Taxes to Caesar.

• Jesus on temple Mount, He is in a region where taxes are expected – this question would possibly not have arisen if He was in Galilee.
• The religious elite who had now decided to plot to kill him based on the parable of the vineyard decide to send the Pharisees and the Herodians. That is interesting because normally these two would oppose each other.
• The Herodians a political party supported Herod and the Roman government.
• The Pharisees a religious party hated Herod and wanted freedom from Rome.
• However in their desire to get rid of Jesus, they united on one thing they did agree – taxes.
• The Herdoans obviously were supportive of the tax.
• Even though other religious groups such as the Zealots said no way; the Pharisees turned to the book of Jeremiah – where he says God gave Israel to Nebuchadnezzar – saying that God gave it to Rome. So they to some degree acknowledged the tax but in other ways did not.
• There is a difference here in some commentators saying that they had opposite views and some thinking they had similar views [JNTC vs RVL]
• What is for sure is they united in order to trap[ Jesus. If he said don’t pay taxes He would be in trouble with the Romans – if He said pay taxes He would be in trouble with many of the Jews.
• Jesus does not give an altogether straight answer but essentially answers with a principle.
• The better word for taxes is tribute. Paying this tax also was an acknowledgement that someone is Lord. Basically they are asking Him; should we give the money that says he is God as he is declared to be?
• Jesus asks – have you got a coin? Well if someone even had a coin it tells you to some degree where they stood. If the Pharisees had had one on them this would have been a little embarrassing for them.
• He asks them whose image is on the coin the coin of Jesus’ day – the coin with the new Caesar – Caesar Tiberius [the son of Augustus]. The inscription would be ‘a worshipped son of a worshipped God”. Specifically: Augustus Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus.
• He is saying give to Caesar what is Caesar but God what is God’s – in doing this He is importantly saying… there is a difference!
• Cleverly however – He also says pay the tax.
• He does three things here:
• Aligns himself with the Jews – He is saying that Caesar is Caesar but that God is God – a contradiction of the Imperial Cult.
• Does not break the Roman law. The coins with Caesars picture are returned to Caesar.
• Helps those genuinely struggling with the issue to see a way forward by giving them insight and wisdom.
• He is declaring only God to be God – his talmidim would die later, because of that one thing! They would serve Caesar in almost anything but they would not acknowledge him as God. What they truly valued was not seen by what they gave… their taxes, duty, responsibilities. It was seen but by what they kept for themselves nothing – not even their life.
• In the Kingdom of Heaven things are not valued as they are on earth. They are not valued by what you give for them but by what you lose for them.
• CR: above with David – I will not sacrifice to my God something that cost me nothing.
• Praying today for more insight on this principle.