They start their test with a bit of buttering up, “Teacher, we know that you’re a man of integrity and you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the poll-tax to Caesar or not?”
Looks like today’s test is to be Jesus versus Rome. The problem is that Rome is an occupying force and so was despised by many (especially the Jews) so to say, “Pay tribute to Caesar,” a man regarded as a god was to alienate many. To say, “No way, don’t pay!” was to take on Rome. Looks like Jesus has a real task before Him, doesn’t it?
But this is Jesus, who seems to beat these guys every step of the road. He calls them hypocrites and having a pop at them for trying (again) to trap, asks them for a coin needed to pay the tax. So they bring him a denarius - a silver coin in a system of copper, silver and gold coinage. Holding the coin, Jesus asks them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription is on it?” There was only one answer possible, “It’s Caesar,” they replied.
‘So give Caesar what’s his,” Jesus said. Game over!
Well actually it’s not because what those who challenged Jesus had done is expose their own divided loyalties for to possess an effigy of the Caesar man-god was to deny God and to pay tribute to him was to offer up to idols. But to deny the Roman taxation system was to revolt against the power that ran the nation. Tax collectors took the Jewish money from the people and converted it (at an extortionate rate) to avoid the Jews from coming into contact with these ‘tributes’.
Jesus continues with the command to, "Render unto God, what is God's," and that means:
EVERYTHING!
What Jesus is doing here is testing those them, and us now, not over the question of taxation for we have none of the problems that they had, but in rendering what is right and proper to those who deserve it. This means paying our taxes (and I’d love to pay a million pounds a year – think that would leave me a bit more than that to do stuff with) and it means giving to God what is His also. The religious people challenging Jesus were more taken up with man than God and yet their question raises the God issue more than we might, at first glance, realise.
So here’s the question: “Are we giving to God all that we should?” The state takes its money whether we’re happy or not, but for God to get what He’s due requires a state of heart and an act of will.
Are we living under law or in love today? This is about more than a coin – it’s about our loving, living and service.
And this brings us nicely to Paul’s letter to Paul, Silas and Timothy and the church in Thessalonica for he speaks of the enduring works of faith done in, and by, love that is found in that place and in those men. They are rendering to God what is right and proper aren’t they? They are imitating Jesus. Living for Him, looking like Him, doing the ‘stuff’! Church only works when we are giving to God and serving one another in love in sound and solid relationship. The more we live with God and each other in love and service the more the Church looks like Jesus. The more we overcome persecution and stand against the evil and cruelty of the age in which we find ourselves, the more the love of God is made real.
We, being filled, with the Holy Spirit helps us live lives that are not ruled by the desires and commands of this world but live differently to them and those in it. Another challenge for us to think about what we give to God.
Someone this week said they’d like to give more to church but because they wanted a new car and to have a bigger house sometime soon and so they couldn’t do both! I walked away sadly thinking that where our treasure is, there also is our heart to be found. But of course, when the end comes the car and house can’t go with us, can they?
Moving on to the Old Testament reading we find Isaiah – always a good read – what does he bring to the party? Seems to be a bit of confusion because he’s saying that God called Cyrus, the Persian king, who had in his land God’s people as exiles following his nation’s conquest of them.
This king, who knew little of God, and nothing in person, is called and responded to this call, by rending the service of allowing the exiles to return to (550BC) Jerusalem. God’s anointing is upon one who is not only far off from God but is also to be considered, perhaps rightly, an enemy of God and His people. Even those far off can be called and can respond – not in tribute rendered like taxes but is service rendering through a response of the heart. This is big news indeed.
Even those far off can serve God and respond to His calling on their lives. Putting aside all the history (and I have for brevity’s sake) for a moment, we have the question, “What is God’s calling on my life, especially if I am one who claims to be near to God. I pay my taxes but how do pay my dues to God?
Today is a challenge to us all, for we might talk the talk, but where does our walk take us and how do we honour God in our giving to Him?
And the best bit is that this is a question no one can answer for us. We can look like we’re up there for God, but only we (and Him) know the truth. The ball is in our court and the decisions are all of our own making. So listen to the call and respond accordingly.
The Collect
Faithful Lord, whose steadfast love never ceases and whose mercies never come to an end: grant us the grace to trust you and to receive the gifts of your love, new every morning, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the poll-tax to Caesar or not?’
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’
They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’
‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.
Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
1 Thessalonians 1
Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Isaiah 45:1-7
‘This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armour, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by nam and bestow on you a title of honour, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.
Post Communion Prayer
Holy and blessed God, you have fed us with the body and blood of your Son and filled us with your Holy Spirit: may we honour you, not only with our lips but in lives dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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