IN confrontation with his critics, Jesus answers the trap-question: “Is it lawful to pay census tax to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:15-21). For those really searching for the truth, honesty is needed to find the interconnection and balance between the spiritual and social realms.
A deceiving question
The question was put to Jesus with the intention of tripping Him. Two opposite camps united to catch Him in a dilemma and so neutralize Him. The followers of Herod were a faction in the Jewish society favorable to the Roman imperial power, while the Pharisees were intransigent against the usurpation of power in the land by the Romans. Jesus would be lost whether he answers their question in the affirmative or in the negative. To say “yes” is to oppose the popular sentiment against the tax as represented by the Pharisees; it is to side with the detested local collaborators of the Romans, thus confirming his known friendly attitude toward tax collectors. To say “no” is to invite the denunciation by Herod’s partisans and to be in conflict with the Roman authorities. The enemies of Jesus thought they have Him pinned down without escape by the horns of their dilemma.
Apart from the hypocrisy and malice of the critics of Jesus, the question about taxes was a matter of conscience for many. Does the law of God allow us to make practical compromises with detestable forces, or does it order us to refuse obedience to them? Without going as far as armed rebellion, is civil disobedience here an open option for believers?
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s
His enemies’ deceitful cleverness overlooked Jesus’ wisdom. Their readiness in producing the tax coin that Jesus asked for indicated their use of it and their own acceptance of the advantages of the financial arrangements by the foreign power. Holding up the coin, Jesus questioned them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” To their reply “Caesar’s,” Jesus followed up: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.” Those benefiting from the law and order maintained by the Romans using the Roman coin should repay the Roman Caesar in kind. But Jesus raised the matter to another level when he further pointed out that neither to be neglected is giving “to God what belongs to God.” They talked about tax in relation to God’s law, they should be concerned no less about repaying God with the good deeds they owe Him.
But the trickery and self-deception on the issue go on. Some people today have twisted Jesus’ words as stating a law of compromise between duties to God and duties to temporal power, confining the sovereign power of God and Caesar’s temporal power to their respective domains, as in an absolute separation of Church (or religion) and state. There are those who want the total autonomy of political power, finding intolerable any interference of religious faith or any accountability on the grounds of Christian morality and principles. This would be the stand of politicians and business people and individuals as well who abhor being challenged regarding the morality of their actuations, and for whom religion and faith should have nothing to do with their politics or activities. Paradoxically, this is so when politics or business or one’s personal life becomes a religion, or an ideology, or an absolutization that demands total submission and total control: It is Caesar playing God, or something passing and temporal in a delusion of being everlasting.
Alálaong bagá, the Church or our Christian faith does begrudge Caesar what is Caesar’s. But we are sure that we must give to God what is God’s. We are all bound to our duties to God our Father, always and everywhere. He alone can demand that we give back everything to Him; to God alone do we owe everything. Our duties to Caesar or any earthly authority are in the light of our fundamental principle: “For the Lord’s sake.” As St. Peter wrote, “Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king… or to the governor… Give honor to all, love the community, fear God” (1 Peter 2:13–14.17). St. Augustine later noted that if Caesar can look only for his image on the coin we use, God looks for His image in our very soul, in our deeds of love and fidelity.
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