Knowing the Word in Luke 20:19-26, Paying Taxes to Caesar

The spies who come to investigate Jesus are Pharisees. They want to discredit him and trap him in a statement so that the Roman authorities will step in and do their dirty work, passing the blame the people would put on them for a despicable act onto the Romans. No one likes paying taxes, especially to the Romans. “Tribute” is a person tax, not one levied on goods but people. By asking if the tax is lawful, they mean in accordance with God’s law, not Roman law. How ever he answers, they expect him to be in trouble. Jesus holds forth a denarius, which is a Roman silver coin that had the effigy of the Emperor Tiberius stamped on it. Jesus makes the point we are citizens of heaven and earth at the same time and can neglect neither loyalty. The state must be respected and its directions complied with in the sphere that God allots it. The state rightly collects taxes to function and the people do receive benefits in exchange. But Caesar’s rights are limited. He has no rights in God’s domain. Our highest loyalty is to God. Astonished, the critics of Jesus are reduced to silence.

Luke 20:19-26

19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

I give thee my hands to do thy work.

I give thee my feet to go thy way.

I give thee my eyes to see as thou seest.

I give thee my tongue to speak thy words.

I give thee my mind that thou mayest think in me.

I give thee my spirit that thou mayest pray in me.

Above all, I give thee my heart that thou mayest love in me

thy Father, and all mankind.

I give thee my whole self that thou mayest grow in me, so that it is thee, Lord, Jesus, who live and work and pray in me.

I hand over to thy care, Lord, my soul and body, my prayers and my hopes, my health and my word, my life and my death, my parents and my family, my friends and my neighbors, my country and all men. Today and always.

Lancelot Andrewes, 1555-1626