Jesus Ignored Politics
Week 8 Small Groups
Matthew 2215 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
Overly simplistic history lesson: Israel lived under Roman occupation. Pharisees were religious conservatives who opposed Rome. Herodians were aristocratic liberals who embraced Rome. Picture two political parties on opposing sides of a debate.
1. On a scale of 1 – 10, how passionate are you about politics?
2. In what way are the Pharisees and Herodians trying to entangle Jesus? (Hint: consider the meaning of lawful in v.17)
3. Explain the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Herodians (v.18)?
4. What are the “things that are God’s” (v.21)?
5. How would you summarize Jesus’ response to the politically charged issue of that day?
The point
Caesar’s tax was a highly controversial issue in that time. It symbolised a recognition of Caesar as ruler of the Roman Empire, which had conquered Israel by 63 B.C. Despite its token value, it created a dichotomy between the law of the land (which recognised Caesar’s rule) and the law of God (which affirms God’s rule). This is the underlying issue in v.17, which could be read “Is it lawful according to religious law to pay taxes to Caesar which was required by secular law?” The Pharisees and Herodians stood on opposite sides; Pharisees placed religious law above secular law while the Herodians placed secular law above religious law. One obeys God and the other obeys Caesar. Jesus did neither and instead separated the two thus honoring both.
6. Can you think of any modern examples in Australia today where we seemingly have to choose between God and Caesar? How are you persuaded by Jesus’ argument in this passage?
Further reading here