Study in Mark’s Gospel

Study in Mark’s Gospel Presentation 38

Paying Taxes To Caesar Chap 12v13-17 Presentation 38

Introduction Have you a favourite cartoon character? Mine must be the American fowl called 'Roadrunner'. He is constantly being chased by a coyote whose goal is to ambush him. The coyote's plans constantly backfire as he invariably becomes the victim of his own traps. The cartoon teaches a profound truth: when we set out to trap others we are in danger of falling victim to our own snare. In the passage before us, the religious leaders attempt to trap Jesus, during what is known as 'the day of questions.’ They lay trap after trap for Jesus, but in each case become embarrassingly, frustratingly entangled in their own snares. Presentation 38

Setting The Trap As plans go, this plan must have struck the religious leaders as ingenious. A group of Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus and created the impression that they were having an argument. The point at issue was, should the Jews pay taxes to Caesar or not? The Pharisees were Jewish nationalists, they hated Roman rule. In contrast, the Herodians were Roman lapdogs constantly on the lookout for ways to profit from their relationship. How plausible this trap must have seemed as two groups of sworn enemies came to Jesus for judgement. Presentation 38

Setting The Trap Jesus knew that the religious parties common hatred of him far outstripped their hatred of one another. The greatest superglue known to man is in fact a common hatred of Jesus. Throughout history, it has often produced strange bedfellows. You may remember in v1-12, the thing that bound the tenant farmers together in Jesus’ parable was a mutual determination to be free from all their obligations to the owner. They would not have him to rule over them! Presentation 38

Setting The Trap The method of approach made to Jesus in v14 was calculated to put him off guard. They flatter Jesus! Flattery doesn't necessarily involve exaggeration or untruthfulness. If flattery is ever to succeed it must proceed on the basis of truth. Imagine a bother approaching his sister whose appearance is plain and complexion is spotty. If he says that he rates her on a par with Catherine Zeta Jones, in the hope of borrowing some money, he is sure to fail. She will see through his scheme. But if he says she has a much more attractive personality than her friends, and that is in his view is much more important, he may have a better chance of success. Presentation 38

Setting The Trap Jesus was noted for his integrity, impartiality, fearlessness, and teaching ability. He was qualified to provide an objective judgement. But his questioners praised him insincerely, their purpose was entrapment. Indeed, the word ‘catch’ used here is a hunting term that described the way in which a hunter would camouflage himself so as not to alert his victim. But Jesus sees the motives of men's hearts. It is sobering to think we may fool family and friends, minister and church concerning our interest in Jesus. But we cannot fool him. Your heart is an open book to him! Presentation 38

Setting The Trap The chief priests clearly had their champagne on ice! They were convinced that they had placed Jesus on the horns of an inescapable dilemma. If he answered, ‘You must pay taxes to Caesar'then he would loose all of his popular support. But if he were to discourage payment then they could accuse him of instigating sedition against Rome. As far as they were concerned Jesus was in a no win situation. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap Jesus asked for a coin. The first task of a conqueror was always to strike coinage bearing his portrait and inscription. In the ancient world coinage was a sign of power. Those, like the questioners, who used the coin clearly acknowledged the ruler's power in Palestine'. But more than that they were acknowledging the many privileges brought by Tiberius' rule: the benefits to commerce, the nation’s infrastructure including its roads, trouble free borders etc. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap Jesus was saying, ‘You can't expect to enjoy the privileges of Roman rule and then shrink from your responsibility towards it’. Indeed, the very word which they use in v15 for 'pay' refers to a grudging handing over of something imposed. But in his reply in v17 Jesus uses another word translated as 'give', a word which speaks of ‘paying back a rightful debt’, Something that is not done with resentment but with gratitude. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap I have no brief from the Inland Revenue, but Jesus' teaching here does have practical implications for taxpayers. Some people boast of putting one over on the tax man, the social services, or the customs officer. But what they are saying is , ‘We want the benefits of government without wanting to pay for them.’ Many people complain about the health service, education and transport system, the process of law and so on. And while we may have legitimate reservations about the quality of some of these services, Jesus point is that we cannot hold out our hand to receive the state's provision while at the same time closing our hand when we are asked to pay for it. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap Just when Jesus ‘opponents thought they could use his words, he said, 'and give to God the things that are God's'. Is he thinking of another coin bearing a different image? The image of God, stamped upon man, reminds us of another authority to which we are answerable. We are to give God his due - the whole of your lives. Jesus’ reply puts our obedience to the state in its proper context. The state can make legitimate demands but there are boundaries it must not pass. Some Roman Emperor's got too big for their boots, demanding what they had no right to demand, to be worshipped as gods. The early church made it clear that by refusing to worship the Emperor they had a loyalty to One greater than he. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap Today, there are still some totalitarian states that want the blind obedience and unquestioning loyalty of their people. But no state has the right to demand an obedience that violates conscience. Whenever human authorities try to stifle a man's conviction and conscience and seek to erode his commitment to God they have gone too far. Peter made this point after Pentecost. The disciples were forbidden to preach about Jesus and Peter replied, 'We must obey God rather than men‘ Acts 5.29. How would you respond if placed under the kind of state pressure that forbade you to worship God as your conscience required? Presentation 38

Springing The Trap But the application is far wider. It is not only our relationship to the state that we need to examine. When a person gives himself unreservedly to God then he will face all sorts of conflict situations. What do you do if your boss asks you to mislead a client? Your boss says, he is looking for loyalty. What do you do if the firm you are working for starts dumping chemical waste endangering people’s lives? The firm says, it wants your loyalty. What do you do if your family asks you to violate your conscience to save them from an embarrassing situation? Your family says, it is looking for loyalty. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap We can try to dodge the issue of conflicting loyalties by finding all sorts of salving compromises. By doing so we are pushing back the boundary of God's control. We are dethroning God. We are refusing him his rights in our lives. The image of God is stamped upon our life and so we owe God what belongs to him - all that we are! Jesus' reply exposed a great weakness in the religious leaders. With their lips they proclaimed God as their king but in practice, God was dethroned and they ruled in his place. They prayed. They went to church. They gave of their resources to God's work but God was not given the priority in their lives which he deserved to have. Presentation 38

Springing The Trap Jesus’ words fell like a sledgehammer, 'Give to God the things that are God's.' They wanted to keep a great part of their lives away from his control. For years C. S. Lewis, the famous English scholar, remained an atheist. He kept God at bay and denied him his rights until he made this disturbing discovery. “There was no region even in the innermost depths of ones soul, which one could surround with a barbed wire fence and guard with a notice 'No Admittance'. And that is what I wanted; some area however small of which I could say to all other beings, "This is my business and mine alone.“” C. S. Lewis Presentation 38

Conclusion Jesus often turns the tables on men. They try to trap him, belittle him, and marginalise him only to find themselves victims of their own traps. Jesus can use such traps for our good. Under the searchlight of his gaze we see ourselves as we truly are. But what effect did his words have on his questioners? Exposed, defeated and humiliated, all these men wanted to do was slink away. That was their immediate reaction. But it need not have been. They could have faced their failure and confessed their sin. But they were too proud to do that. How will we respond to Jesus’ words, 'Give to God the things that are God's'? Will we slink away? Or, will we submit to his rule in every area of our lives? Presentation 38

Study in Mark’s Gospel