Matthew 22:20-21 “…[He] said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s’”.

Judea in the First Century was severely politically divided; three groups contended for the commitment of the people. This is the context for this passage, which includes the most incendiary question in the gospels: “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar?” (This tax was required by all non-citizens in occupied Roman provinces.) Each group sought to either count Jesus as an ally or expose him as an adversary. The Herodians supported the government: the ruling family and, through them, Imperial Rome. They wanted a solid “Yes” from Jesus: that Judeans should pay the tax. The Pharisees were a populist group, supporting whichever political group that would leave them alone so they could advance their mission of influencing the public to take the Law more seriously. As the Pharisees were mighty annoyed at Jesus and his views, especially around Sabbath-keeping, they hoped for a “No” from Jesus, so they could potentially use his response against him with the authorities. The third group was the Zealots, never referenced in the New Testament except for “Simon the Zealot,” one of Jesus’ disciples. This movement advocated nothing short of violent revolution against Roman rule. They desired a firm “No” from Jesus so they could capitalize on his popularity with the masses, furthering their own agenda with him as an ally and perhaps a leader.

It was a lose-lose proposition for Jesus.

His brilliant response was to request the coin required to pay the tax, asking whose image it bore. It was Caesar’s. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” he told them—implying that they should pay the tax. (It was a common perception that a coin with the emperor’s image on it belonged to the emperor.) Then Jesus adds, “…but give to God what is God’s.” In short, Jesus is saying, “What is owed to Ceasar is this one coin. What is owed to God is expansive and evocative. Imagine the unlimited possibilities and then act out your part.”

In this time of severe American division, we might ask ourselves what we owe the political process, in terms of commitment or zeal. It may only be one denarius. God, on the other hand, wants all of our everything.

Fr. Brian Lennstrom