The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
(Matt. 22:15–22; Luke 20:20–26 )
Mark 12:13-17 NKJV – “Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.”
V13 “Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.” They never give up. The energy of evil people seems boundless. Part of Brave AI’s answer: “Evil people may appear to have a lot of energy because they often exhibit a relentless drive for control and manipulation, which can be fueled by their negative emotions and behaviors.” This seems to be a reasonable answer. These followers of the Jewish leaders did not want anyone to have power and authority except them. They will do about anything to keep it, including murder.
Here, they continue to ask a seemingly reasonable question. They do not want an answer; they just want to trip Jesus, entangle Him in His words, so they can accuse Him, arrest Him, and kill Him.
Pharisees are the group who develop man-made rules instead of living by God’s rules (Matthew 15:9). Their law had greater authority than God’s law.
Herodians are (ISBE): “They were not a religious sect, but, as the name implies, a court or political party, supporters of the dynasty of Herod. Nothing is known of them beyond what the Gospels state. Whatever their political aims, they early perceived that Christ’s pure and spiritual teaching on the kingdom of God was irreconcilable with these, and that Christ’s influence with the people was antagonistic to their interests.”
V14 “When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” The gotcha question. Note their method: 1) flattery and 2) the gotcha question. If Jesus says, “Yes,” then He will be accused of being a traitor to Israel. If Jesus says, “No,” then Jesus opposes Rome.
Interestingly, they (if they are speaking truth) pointed out two truths about Jesus: 1) He and His teaching are true and 2) He is unbiased.
V15 “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” Jesus is omniscient. See John 2:25, Revelation 2:23, and Matthew 9:4. Because the Lord Jesus is God, He has omnisapience, the highest possible wisdom. Compare Psalm 139:1-6, Proverbs 2:6, and Hebrews 4:12-13.
V16 “So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus is making an illustration. He asks for a denarius. Then asks them a question. They answer correctly. Now, Jesus makes His point.
V17 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.” The principle: what is God’s, then honor God, and what is Caesar’s, then honor Caesar. Brilliant reply.
J. C. Ryle answers the question:
“He was not imposed upon, as too many of His people are, by glowing language and fine speeches.
“He made the daily practice of His own enemies supply Him with an answer to their cunning questions. He tells them to “bring Him a penny,” a common coin which they themselves were in the habit of using. He asks them “whose image and superscription” are stamped upon that penny? They are obliged to reply, “Cæsar’s.” They were themselves using a Roman coin, issued and circulated by the Roman government. By their own confession, they were in some way under the power of the Romans, or this Roman money would not have been current among them. At once, our Lord silences them by the memorable words, “Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” He bids them pay tribute to the Roman government in temporal things, for by using its money, they allowed themselves bound to do so. Yet He bids them give obedience to God in spiritual things, and not to suppose that duty to an earthly sovereign and a heavenly sovereign are incapable of being reconciled one with the other. In short, He bids the proud Pharisee not to refuse his dues to Cæsar, and the worldly Herodian not to refuse his dues to God.”
We learn:
- How to reply to gotcha questions.
- The purpose of taxes.
- The importance of paying taxes, if required.
- His omniscience and wisdom.
Questions:
- Have you searched for God’s answers to your questions? They are found in the Bible. Let us pray for wisdom.
- Do you honor God properly, and do you honor human leaders properly?