19 And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on
him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they
perceived that he spake this parable against them. 20 And they
watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be
righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to
deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.
21 And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest
and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person _of any_, but
of a truth teachest the way of God: 22 Is it lawful for us to give
tribute unto Cæsar, or not? 23 But he perceived their craftiness,
and said unto them, 24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and
superscription hath it? And they said, Cæsar’s. 25 And he said
unto them, Then render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and
unto God the things that are God’s. 26 And they were not able to
take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at
his answer, and held their peace.
The rulers had been defeated, discredited, and disgraced but they had not
been discouraged. In their first question they failed utterly to bring
Jesus into any unlawful opposition to the religious courts. They now
attempted by a new question to draw from him an answer which either would
make him unpopular with the people or would bring him under the
condemnation of the civil ruler. They asked him a question relative to the
payment of tribute to the Roman Government. The more conservative Jews
held that God was the ruler of Israel and that possibly it was wrong to
pay taxes to support a heathen state. The more liberal party sided with
the Herods, who owed their power to Rome. Therefore the enemies of Jesus
sent to him representatives of both parties, Pharisees and Herodians, so
that if he should avoid offending one party he would displease the other.
They approached Jesus with the flattering assurance that he was so
truthful and courageous that he would not hesitate to express his true
convictions; and then they proposed their artful question: “Is it lawful
for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?” Should Jesus say, “Yes”? Then
he would cease to be a popular idol, for the people loathed the hateful
oppression of Rome. Should Jesus say, “No”? Then his enemies would hurry
him away to the Roman governor and the cross, as a traitor and a rebel.
The dilemma seemed complete; yet Jesus not only escaped the snare, but, in
his reply, he enunciated a law for all time. “Render unto Cæsar the things
that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
To make plain his meaning, Jesus first called for a Roman coin, and asked
whose image and superscription it bore. The reply, of course, was
“Cæsar’s.” Jesus therefore declared that those who accept the protection
of a government and the privileges provided by a government, are under
obligation to support that government. Christianity never should be
identified with any political party or social theory; but Christians ever
should take their stand for loyalty, for order, and for law.
It is not the whole of life, however, to “render unto Cæsar the things
that are Cæsar’s;” one must also render “unto God the things that are
God’s.” The latter higher allegiance includes the former. The enemies of
Jesus suggested a conflict of duties; he showed that there was perfect
harmony. He intimated, however, that there was danger of forgetting God,
and our obligations to him of trust, service, worship, love. The true
basis for citizenship is devotion to God, and no political theory or party
allegiance can be taken as a substitute for loyalty to him. The enemies of
Jesus were answered and rebuked, and his followers were given guidance for
all the coming years.