Gavin Howe
The question of whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar is a well-known biblical inquiry, posed to Jesus by the Pharisees. The question was intended as a trap, as the Pharisees believed that Jesus would condemn the payment of taxes to a foreign ruler, which would give them cause to hand him over to the Roman authorities. Jesus' response, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's, has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity, secular government, and society. This response has been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing it as an unambiguous command to respect state authority and pay taxes, while others interpret it as a distinction between earthly and heavenly matters, where paying taxes to an earthly ruler is not a religious matter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Phrase | Render unto Caesar |
| Full phrase | Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's |
| Other forms of the phrase | Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's; Give to Caesar things of Caesar and to God the things of God |
| Interpretation | Commands people to respect state authority and pay the taxes it demands of them; Christians are obliged to obey all earthly authorities |
| Other interpretations | Jesus demarcated clearly between the earthly and the heavenly, saying that it is neither unpatriotic nor idolatrous to pay taxes to the Emperor; Jesus' answer addressed the legal question while also asserting that God already owns the things He commands them to give to Him |
| Biblical references | Matthew 22:16-17, 18-19, 21, 22; Mark 12:14; Luke 20:21-22; Romans 6:13; Romans 13; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 24:1 |
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What You'll Learn
The question was a trap
The question was indeed a trap, set by the Herodians and the Pharisees, who were conspiring to entangle Jesus in his words and accuse him of treason against Rome or blasphemy. They asked Jesus: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Luke 22:15–17 ESV). If Jesus had said, “Yes,” the Jews would have accused him of supporting Roman rule and rejected Him as the Messiah. If He had said, “No,” He would have been accused of treason against Rome.
Jesus, recognizing their malicious intent, asked for a denarius, a silver coin used for the tax. It bore an image of the emperor and an inscription declaring him to be divine. The Jews considered such images idolatrous, forbidden by the second commandment. If Jesus had affirmed the tax as “lawful,” He could have been seen as rejecting the second commandment, thus questioning His claim to be the Son of God.
However, Jesus wisely answered, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21 ESV). He neither affirmed nor denied the legality of the tax but redirected the focus to the image on the coin. By doing so, He avoided the trap set for Him and provided a profound teaching on the relationship between the earthly and the divine.
Jesus' response also highlights the distinction between earthly and divine authority. By acknowledging Caesar's right to levy taxes, Jesus demonstrated respect for earthly authority while also emphasizing that ultimate allegiance belongs to God. This response has been interpreted as a call to fulfill civic duties while also prioritizing spiritual obligations.
In conclusion, the question about the legality of paying taxes to Caesar was indeed a trap designed to incriminate Jesus. However, His wise and insightful response not only navigated the treacherous question but also provided a timeless lesson on the interplay between earthly responsibilities and spiritual commitments.
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The answer avoided idolatry
The question of whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar was a trap set by the Pharisees and the Herodians to discredit Jesus. If Jesus had answered "yes," he would have been seen as going against the second commandment and rejecting his claim to be the Son of God. If he had answered "no," his words would have been used against him by the Romans, who were responsible for collecting taxes in Judea.
Jesus' response, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's," has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity, secular government, and society. In his answer, Jesus avoided idolatry by demarcating clearly between the earthly and the heavenly. He asserted that paying taxes to the Emperor was not idolatrous because both the taxes and the Emperor were of an earthly dimension. It was simply an act of earthly convenience and appropriateness, and therefore not a sin.
Jesus also implied that God already owned the things commanded by Him, including the taxpayers' money and their very being, which must be offered back in tribute. By giving Caesar what bore his image and giving God what bore His image, Jesus emphasized that the taxpayers were giving back what already belonged to each respective figure.
Jesus' answer also addressed the issue of idolatry by liberating his followers from their fear of paying taxes to a foreign ruler. By submitting to the rule of the Emperor, as demonstrated by the use of his coinage, Jesus' followers could enjoy the advantages of living in a state such as Caesar's while still obeying God's authority.
In conclusion, Jesus' answer to the question of whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar avoided idolatry by distinguishing between earthly and heavenly matters, asserting God's ownership over all things, and liberating his followers from fear and submission to a foreign ruler.
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Jesus' answer was compatible with war tax resistance
The phrase "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" is attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels. This phrase has been widely quoted to summarise the relationship between Christianity, secular government, and society. The original message, in response to a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, has multiple possible interpretations.
Jesus' answer has been interpreted in various ways, and one perspective is that it was compatible with war tax resistance. This interpretation suggests that Jesus differentiated between civil government and God's commands and laws. Joshua Maule, in 1862, supported this view, arguing that there was no indication that the tax mentioned in the episode was connected to war. He believed that Jesus' words emphasised "peace on earth and good-will to men."
Jesus' response to the question about tax payments to Caesar has been seen as a clever manoeuvre to avoid the trap set by his interrogators. By asking them to produce a coin, he demonstrated that they had already acknowledged the emperor's de facto rule by using his coinage. This implied that they should also submit to the associated obligations, including tax payments.
However, it's important to recognise that Jesus' answer also had deeper implications. He asserted that God, as the creator of humans, has a claim over them just as Caesar had a claim over the coins bearing his image. This interpretation highlights the distinction between earthly obligations and our duties to God, suggesting that our ultimate allegiance should be to God rather than any earthly authority.
In conclusion, while Jesus' answer can be interpreted as compatible with war tax resistance by drawing a line between earthly and divine realms, it also underscores the importance of fulfilling our earthly responsibilities while prioritising our commitment to God.
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The answer addressed the legal question
The question of whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar was a trap set by the Pharisees and Herodians for Jesus, as they believed that either a "yes" or a "no" answer would have gotten him in trouble. If Jesus had answered "no", the Pharisees could have informed the Romans that he was teaching the people not to pay taxes. If he had said "yes", they would have found something in the Law against him.
Jesus' answer addressed the legal question by making the point that Caesar already owned what he was demanding of them. By implication, he also asserted that God already owned the things He commanded them to give to Him. Jesus' answer also ran counter to the spirit of Jewish nationalism at the time, which viewed Roman rule as a violation of Israel's Divinely appointed status and sovereignty.
Jesus' response also demarcated clearly between the earthly, to which politics belong, and the heavenly. He stated that it was neither unpatriotic nor idolatrous to pay taxes to the Emperor, as these were of an earthly dimension and it was simply an act of earthly convenience and appropriateness. However, refusing to pay taxes out of religious concerns would be both unpatriotic and idolatrous, as it would reduce the God of Israel to a political agenda and to the level of respect of the Roman Emperor.
Jesus' answer, therefore, addressed the legal question by arguing that paying taxes to Caesar was not a violation of Jewish law or sovereignty, but rather an earthly matter that did not conflict with their religious obligations to God.
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The answer demarcated between the earthly and the heavenly
The phrase "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" is attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels. This phrase has been widely quoted to summarise the relationship between Christianity, secular government, and society. The original message, in response to a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, has given rise to multiple interpretations about the circumstances under which Christians should submit to earthly authority.
Jesus' answer demarcated between the earthly and the heavenly, acknowledging the distinction between civil government and God's authority. He recognised the earthly dimension of taxes and the Emperor, advocating respect for state authority and obedience to earthly rulers, as introduced by God. This interpretation suggests that Jesus' response indicated that enjoying the advantages of a state, such as using its legal tender, entails submitting to its laws.
However, Jesus' answer also emphasised the priority of spiritual matters. By alluding to the image of God that humans are created in, he suggested that God demands not just material possessions but the devotion of one's entire being. This interpretation highlights the need to give God what is rightfully His, which is of greater importance than earthly concerns.
Jesus' response to the question about paying taxes to Caesar, therefore, provided a nuanced perspective that acknowledged the legitimacy of earthly authorities while also emphasising the ultimate priority of spiritual obligations. Christians are called to navigate their earthly responsibilities while remaining faithful to God's commands and maintaining a heavenly focus.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase is attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels. It is a response to the question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar.
The phrase has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity, secular government, and society. It has been interpreted as a command to respect state authority and pay taxes.
The question was a trick question posed by the Pharisees and their disciples, who were trying to trap Jesus into taking a stand on the issue of paying taxes to the Roman authorities. They asked, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
Jesus responded by asking whose head and inscription were on a Roman coin. They answered, "Caesar's," and he said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God, the things that are God's."
