20/10/02 Trinity 20/Proper 24 Matthew 22:15-22

PRAY

Poll Tax has always been an emotive issue. It has been introduced twice into this country and, in both cases was so unpopular it did not continue. It was also an issue for the Jews who were occupied by the Romans. Shortly before Jesus Judas the Galilean had led a tax-revolt . Their ambiguous motto was, 'Pay back the Gentiles what they deserve.'

'15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.'

Then and now entrapment is a legal offence. This was their motive, not to solve an issue of the day. They wanted to get their own back on Jesus who had first silenced them over whether John the Baptist was from men or God. Then he had embarrassed them by using the parables of the vineyard and the wedding banquet to condemn them.

Verse 16: They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.

The "Pharisees" were nationalistic Jews, and the "Herodians" , people who supported Herod, the Roman puppet king, and his successors. Normally opposed but united only in their desire to get rid of Jesus - speak to him.

"You aren't swayed by men": Biblical justice expects impartiality: no bribes, and tilting of the scales of justice towards the poorer litigant. They appear to respect him, but speak with irony. And then the question, the subject of great debate in Jewish circles: should we pay the annual poll tax to Rome?

Verse 17: " Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" A question of conscience for the Pharisees, but a foregone conclusion for the Herodians. Opinions varied: one group, the Zealots, claimed that God's people should not be subject to pagan Gentiles.

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Jesus sees through their plot; he calls them "hypocrites" . Originally the Greek word, hypokrites was a theatrical term meaning actor. They were pretending to respect him but intending to discredit him. If Jesus says yes pay the tax, Zealots and other Jews hostile to Rome will turn against him; if he says no, he will risk arrest for inciting rebellion against Rome.

19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 And he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21 Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Jesus sidesteps another issue (vv. 20-22): the obverse side of the coin is inscribed "Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, great high priest". This was an insult to Jews. The Romans believed in many gods, so it was not a great thing to add the latest Caesar to their list. Yet to a Jew there was only one God. Anyone claiming to be god would therefore be blasphemous.

We know his answer, as translated, but "Give" can be give back or repay. To Jews then and to us now, all we have is given to us by God; we owe everything to him. Verse 21: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" Jesus accepts the status quo as the lesser of two evils, the other being anarchy. He does not accept the state's claim to be divine. God's domain is greater than the emperor's. Yet there is also the case for paying taxes to a government. Jesus answer is so clever that it once more silences his opponents who go away. A few days later they would kill him. Thinking that this would silence him and get him out of their hair.

To summarise Jesus' teaching :

We should willingly pay the government tax.

Why ? They are put there by God. cf Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

A few years a Vicar and former professional footballer, Peter Hart, came to speak at a sports evening at the Queen's Head next door. He referred to a practice that went on of Football Clubs giving cash back-handers in brown envelopes to the players so they would not have to pay tax and National Insurance. Once he became a Christian he stood up against this and asked that these bonuses be included in his pay packet and, therefore, be subject to tax.

When we fail to pay tax or allow it to happen this is wrong. We are going against God's plans. We are cheating fellow tax payers.

Talk of not enough money for Health Service. But if there was no withholding of tax could well pay for Health Service that we want. Affects everybody. Not clever, or to go along with. Yet there may be extreme occasions when a government is going against God's ways so much that they cannot be supported and withholding tax may be a valid means of protest. Some pacifists have done this over the use of nuclear weapons and withheld tax in proportion to that spent on nuclear arms.

We should pay God what is due to Him.

This was not the main thrust of Jesus' teaching here because it would be assumed that a good Jew would give God his due.

We live in a materialistic world which has it's own idols, things that people worship. Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica ( 1:1-10 ) rejoiced in the news that the Christians there had turned from idols to the living and true God. They had put their hope in waiting for the return of the risen Lord Jesus, not the worthless things that they could see.

This should put our thoughts about money, paying tax and giving to God into context. Money cannot buy happiness. John D. Rockefeller said, 'I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness. I would barter them all for the days I sat in an office stool in Cleveland and counted myself rich on 3 dollars a week.'

Money and the things it can buy will be of no value when Jesus returns. Therefore, why should we pursue it to build a false security that will not bring happiness and, one day, be worthless ? Some think in terms of giving as little as they can to God. We need to ask the question, 'Are you giving what is right, or what is left ?!'

Holy Trinity Brompton who launched the 'Alpha Course' do not teach tithing, that is to say, giving a set proportion of someone's income, usually 10%. They avoid this because they say that they want people to be generous to God rather than having a set proportion that is expected of them. I can see the value of this. For the Jews of Jesus' day 10% was the minimum expected of them. How much more than this, therefore, should Christians respond to the generosity of God who did not spare his only son.

It has been said that there are 3 types of giving : grudge giving; duty giving; and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, 'I have to'. Duty giving says, 'I ought to'. Thanksgiving says, ' I want to'.

God has revealed himself as a God who loves us. Who has bought us at the price of His only Son. We remember and proclaim that love for us in this service. Our response should be one of giving. Not a certain percentage of money, but a wholehearted giving of ourselves back to God in love and gratitude for all that he has given us.

This should involve our money and also our time, talents, energies, our reputations. We should offer everything back to God. We have been bought at a price. Therefore, we no longer own ourselves, we belong to God. Let us show that. Not merely I by agreeing to financial demands, but by living lives marked by self-giving love that reflect God's love for us.

It has been said that happiness consists of 3 things: something to love; something to do; something to look forward to. For the believer Christ is the one who is loved; His service is the something that he has to do; and His approval and eternal companionship are what is hoped for.

PRAY