Matthew 22:15-22 is perhaps the most famous of this short series of passages I am considering, other than John 18:33-37 which I will discuss next week.
In contrast to yesterday's passage, in which the issue was a religious tax, the question put to Jesus here by the Pharisees and Herodians (in an effort to trap him and obtain a basis either for denouncing him to the Roman authorities or discrediting him before the people) involves the relationship between Jews and Romans. More specifically, it addresses the relationship between political authorities and those under those authorities. As is always the case, Jesus sees right through their little plot and uses the question as an opportunity to teach on a more important subject than whether it is lawful to pay taxes. He reminds his listeners that there are legitimate authorities and that God's authority is supreme over all (for what "things" are not God's?), so that in all things our primary motive is to glorify and obey God.
What does it mean to “render unto Caesar” while keeping God’s authority paramount? God has placed us in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, including the country of our habitation and the laws under which we live. So long as "Caesar" does not require us to do anything that violates God's principles we must respect his derived authority.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment