Have you ever seen someone attempt to get a brilliant person to slip up? That is exactly what is happening in our Gospel lesson this morning.
The Pharisees are behind the plot and the author makes it clear that the intentions of those approaching Jesus are to “entangle him in his answer.” The Pharisees send their disciples and the Herodians to talk to Jesus. We know about the Pharisees, they go up against Jesus most often in the Gospels. Jesus argues with them on various occasions about Sabbath, cleansing, marriage, divorce, fasting, tithing, who Jesus chooses to hang out with, etc. The Pharisees have an understanding of a relationship with God, and as we see later in Jesus’s life they would kill to protect it.
The Herodians, however, do not represent religion, or God’s law. They represent Rome. They are the puppet kings of the Romans. They are the unfortunate, leftovers of the God-ordained role of King of Israel. These are Herod’s supporters who have an interest in delegitimizing Jesus, after all, Herod believes himself to be king of the Jews.
They approach, and first, they complement Jesus attempting to butter him up, and get his guard down, and then they lay it on him, “Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” And, we all know the answer Jesus gives, who is on the coin? Caesar is on the coin they answer. Jesus brilliantly replies, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” As we read, they marveled and ran away with their tails firmly between their legs.
Did you all notice Jesus did not have any money on him? He had to ask those who were questioning him for a coin to make his point. I find that interesting, and I have a thesis as to why Jesus may not have been carrying any money, and I think that will explain what Jesus is saying when he tells the Pharisees and Herodians to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.
Think about who Jesus is always teaching in parables. It shouldn’t be too hard because this is the first Gospel in weeks that has not been a parable. In Matthew’s account, Jesus’s parables begin in chapter 13, and he starts by teaching a great multitude of people. Then the next time He is using parables, in chapter 18, Jesus is teaching his Disciples. From that point on when Jesus is teaching with parables, he is talking with Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees. I believe Jesus is teaching them because even though they are out to get him and to find a reason to bring him to trial, Jesus Loves them. Jesus values their legacy, and what Israel has built in the name of God. His parables are to continually give them the chance to see that their understanding is wrong, and they need to submit to the teaching of the smartest man who has ever lived, Jesus Christ.
In fact, I would even argue that, in the text surrounding this Jesus’s emotions give him away. Think about what Jesus did after he entered Jerusalem, he cleared the temple of the money changers, he publicly proclaims woe to the Pharisees, he laments over Jerusalem. Before his arrest, as he is praying, he sweats blood, as he is being overwhelmed by the constant sin he is surrounded by in the world and by our rejection of His love. Jesus is in his last days is incredibly emotional as he confronts the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
In the trial of Jesus, Jesus is brought before Caiaphas first and is asked: “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus’s answer is yet one more chance for them to repent as he tells them they will see “the son of man seated and coming on the clouds of heaven.” He is telling them who he is, but they won’t listen. Then when Jesus is brought before Pilate, he is asked “are you the king of the Jews” Jesus replies, “you have said so.” Then more accusations are lobbied against him, and Jesus stands there, and he remains silent. Before Pilate, the one person who can save him, Jesus says nothing. As if the power Pilate has, the power that has been granted him from Caesar, is not a power Jesus recognizes. Pilate seems to have the power to release Jesus, but as far as Jesus sees it, Pilate’s power, the power of the world, is an empty power that in the grand scheme of God’s plan is meaningless, and hollow.
When the Pharisees and Herodians approach Jesus and ask him if one should pay taxes to Caesar or not, and Jesus responds, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, he is really saying that Caesar’s power, and influence, wealth, and even his kingdom, is worthless when compared to Jesus’ kingdom, the kingdom of God. When Jesus proclaims give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, what we should be hearing is, the great wealth, and riches of this world, that we collect, that we fight over, that we complain about not having enough of, that we withhold from those who need it, are really insignificant in God’s grand scheme.
What we should be hearing is that the insignificant wealth each of us possesses, should be used for the honor and glory of God, and for the love of our families. When we hold our wealth above God, it loses all of its value. But when we use our wealth for the building up of God’s kingdom, and to live into our baptismal covenant of raising up the next generation of the church, it becomes infinitely more valuable. When we freely and lovingly give to the church of our means, we exchange what moth and rust destroy for e building up of God’s kingdom, and for the future of the Church.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Christian C. Wood
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
20th Sunday after Pentecost
22 October 2017