PAYING TAXES TO THE
EMPEROR
2ND Friday
of Lent
Read Matthew 22:15-22.
What are the Pharisees trying to do in verses 16-17? How does Jesus respond?
“Repay to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Take a moment to reflect on how this verse
applies to your own life. Are you giving
to God what is due?
Notes on the text:
Jews of that era wanted to be a sovereign nation. They despised Roman rule and anything
symbolic of that rule including taxes paid to the Roman government. Yet it was considered treason to speak out against
the Romans. The trap laid is a
Catch-22. If Jesus says, “Pay your
taxes,” the Jews will consider him an agent of the Romans, and he will lose his
disciples. If Jesus says, “Don’t pay
your taxes,” the Pharisees can turn him in to the Romans for treason. Either way, the Pharisees are rid of Jesus.
Verse 17 refers to the scriptural Law.
The coin readily produced by the Pharisees indicates they
are using the coin in their own commerce.
It would have had an image of the Emperor Tiberius (14-37 CE).
Jesus turns the question back on the Pharisees, implying that
they are already honoring Caesar in their commerce but are not returning to God
the good deeds required by the Law.
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