Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost October 19, 2008
Scripture	Matthew 22:15-22 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21 They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Devotional	The Pharisees were sure they had Jesus in a trap he could not escape. He was in the temple teaching those who came to hear. The Pharisees sent their agents along with some Herdians. After a bit of flattery, they deliver their question with which they expect to corner Jesus. “What do you think?” Have you ever been ask this question especially by someone who is not seeking instruction or dialogue? Their only purpose is attempting to entrap you. How do you respond? Was Jesus suspicious of this group? If two groups, who have different views on a subject, approach you with a question, would you be leery? On the subject of the tax, the Pharisees would have opposed the tax, while the Herodians supported the tax. This was a Roman head tax imposed in 6CE when Judea became a Roman province. “Tell us then, what you think, is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Jesus ask for a coin and they brought him one. “Whose head is this, and whose title? Jesus has separated the issues of loyalty to God and loyalty to Caesar. The Roman head tax could only be paid with the Roman coin. Jesus does not suggest that paying taxes to a pagan government is against the will of God. The coin with the emperor’s image would not have belonged to God. Jesus’ solution of giving what belonged to Caesar to Caesar and what belonged to God to God. Everything belonged to God, except the Roman coin, therefore the division of one’s possessions was not a big problem. One point which is not mentioned in this story is how the Pharisees came up with a Roman coin inside the temple. This would have been against the law of the temple. Do we sometimes break God’s law just to trap someone?