Render to Caesar
- Kadosh Ministries
- Feb 5, 2024
- 3 min read
Author: Joseph
Date: February 5, 2023
Caesar collected a poll tax from the people of Judea as a way to extort them as a conquered people. The citizens of Judea despised the tax collectors who collected this tax and other taxes. This tax was a point of contention since it was of no benefit to the people, but only for Caesar’s government. It was unjust, yet if the people did not pay, they would be viewed as revolting against Caesar’s government and therefore Caesar. The Pharisees as well as the Herodians and chief priests were in “good status” with the Roman government and their local prefects (Mark 3:6; John 19:15). Their priority was maintaining their status and not to cause any disturbance so as to incur punishment from Caesar. So they conspired to trap Yeshua with a question to give them legal reason for the Roman authorities to prosecute Yeshua. They wanted Yeshua removed for not only teaching against them, but for (in their minds) causing turmoil that would disrupt their political status as well in the eyes of the Roman authorities.
They attempted to flatter Yeshua, hoping to catch Him in a mistake by His words:
“Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and deter to no one: for you are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do you think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:16-17).
Yeshua knew the hearts of the leaders; they were corrupt and hypocritical (Matthew 22:18).
He answered them, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the pol-tax” (Matthew 22:18-19). After demonstrating that it was Caesar’s image on the coin, He then stated, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).
The coin used to pay tribute to Caesar bore Caesar’s face. It was designed by Caesar for the purpose of serving Caesar. So when Yeshua said to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, He was permitting that they submit to the authorities over them and not be troubled by doing so. If Caesar desired to be flattered by the use of his own image in conducting business, then so be it. It was a meaningless thing that was not to occupy the mind of those who seek after the things of God. Yeshua wanted His followers not to fret over such issues as taxes. Taxes and the greed of the world would remain with the world and occupy their minds. On the other hand, the things of God will endure into eternity and be the only focus for the believer.
It is written, “they were amazed at Him,” (Matthew 22:17). They did not understand Yeshua’s lack of priority regarding their own greedy desire for the riches of the world. Yeshua and His followers were not to be occupied with such desires and this caused them to marvel at Yeshua’s answer. A mind set on the things of this world cannot understand the will of God and those who set their minds on the things from above. Yeshua was not embittered by Caesar’s taxation, rather, He was totally unbothered by it because it was a matter for Caesar, not God.
"...be focused on God’s will and the works He has prepared..."
Do not become bothered by the things that this world demands from us. Unless we are in disobedience to God by obeying, there is no reason to resist what the ruling authorities of this world ask from us. As stated just before, as long as we are not being asked to sin against God, our submission to the ruling authorities of this world is not an issue of concern for the believer, rather, we should be focused on God’s will and the works He has prepared for us to be concerned about.
What occupies your time and efforts? Do you resist the things that the ruling authorities ask of you even though there is no sin against God in submitting? Of course, you must discern what is sinful and what is not so that you do not submit to something you are not supposed to, but in the matters that have been discerned as not sinful, do not resist them out of your own desire. If your government asks for taxes, pay them. If the government asks you to bow down to idols, then righteously disobey. Know what is sinful and what is not and you can properly render to Caesar what is his and render to God the things of God.
Matthew 22:15-22
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
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