http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Questions Asked About Paying Taxes to Caesar Matthew 22:15-22 Mark 12:13-17 Luke 20:20-26
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Texts: Questions Asked About Paying Taxes to Caesar Matthew 22:15-22, 15. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19. Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21. They say unto him, Caesar s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar s; and unto God the things that are God s. 22. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way. Mark 12:13-17, 13. And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 15. Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar s. 17. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s. And they marveled at him. Luke 20:20-26, 20. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 21. And they asked him, saying, Master we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: 22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24. Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar s. 25. And he said unto them, render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar s, and unto God the things which be God s. 26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace. Introduction: I. Rather than being led to repentance by the previous parables and teachings of Jesus, they set about in earnest to kill him.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 Commentary: I. The Pharisees (perhaps of the Sanhedrin) got together sometime later and devised a plan to entrap Jesus in his words, speech. A. These Pharisees were ready, no doubt, to misquote Jesus, put their spin on what he said, to twist what Jesus said to their own advantage. II. Disciples of the Pharisees, spies along with the Herodians were sent to Jesus for the purpose of entrapping him in his words. A. They may have appeared to have been ever so sincere, but in fact they were conniving hypocrites. B. They pretended to be honest. C. They were trying, hoping to catch Jesus in something he said that would give them an occasion, opportunity to hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. D. The Pharisees sent their disciples to do their dirty work for them. The Pharisees stayed out of sight on this occasion. E. Old enemies, Pharisees and Herodians, joined forces against Jesus. III. First of all the spies tried to compliment Jesus and cause him to answer imprudently; that is, with his guard down. IV. They said, Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.... you speak and teach what is right. (NIV) A. Did they really believe this was a true character description of Jesus?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 B. If they did in fact believe Jesus was this type person, their behavior is seen to be even more reprehensible. V. You aren t swayed by men, you do not show partiality because you pay no attention to who they are. (NIV) A. These Herodians and disciples of the Pharisees were certainly agile debaters and formidable opponents... to anyone less than divine. VI. Tell us then, what is your opinion? (NIV) VII. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (NIV) A. Should we pay or shouldn t we? (NIV) Give us a Yes or No answer, they said. B. Herodians ardently advocated Caesar s cause and favored complete submission of Israel to Caesar s government. 1. The Pharisees cunningly included Herodians in the questioning group to further the charade. 2. If Jesus had said it was not lawful to pay Roman taxes the Herodians would have immediately had him arrested for sedition which was punishable by death. (Coffman, Matthew page 351). 3. If Jesus had said it was right to pay the hated Roman tax, his popularity would have been greatly reduced. C. The Pharisees were extremely crafty. They thought they had Jesus on the horns of a dilemma. D. The people were required to pay a poll tax to Rome as a symbol of their subjection to the emperor.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 E. Obviously the people detested this state of affairs, this tax. F. The spies spoke of paying. Jesus spoke of giving back. The connotations are vastly different. VIII. What about today s Christians and our responsibilities to the government? A. Romans 13:1-7, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience s sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due: custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. B. First Timothy 2:1-6, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. C. First Peter 2:13-17, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord s sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 Questions Asked About Paying Taxes to Caesar Questions 1. The parables studied in previous lessons did not lead Jesus enemies to. To the contrary, they set about in to Jesus. 2. These devised a plan to Jesus in his,. They were ready, no doubt, to Jesus, put their on what he said, to what Jesus said to their own. 3. Why did the spies tell Jesus, We know you are a man of integrity, you speak and teach what is right? 4. Why was Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar? thought to have been a good question with which to test Jesus?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 5. What was Jesus answer to this question by which his enemies were silenced? 6. What are our responsibilities as Christians to government? 7. Would our responsibilities as Christians been different during World War II had we been citizens of Germany or Japan rather than the United States? 8. Would these Christian responsibilities have varied in regard to military service?