Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
On the surface, this is a story of people trying to trick Jesus by asking him a question that seems to have only two answers, either of which will get Jesus in trouble. But Jesus answers in a way that sidesteps the trap. You don’t have to know anything else about scripture or theology and this story will still teach you the lesson that there is always a more gracious and true way to live--in which you break free from the false dichotomy of either/or, black/white, right/wrong. In a world that seems focused on either/or; the way of Christ is predominately both/and.
That’s an important point; but watch what happens when you bring an awareness of other scriptural and historical truths into this story. Recall the first of the Ten Commandments, as found in Exodus 20:4-6:
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
For the Hebrew people, there was no god except for the Lord, and every visual depiction of the Lord was forbidden. No idols, no graven images...no exceptions.
Also know this: a denarius was a Roman coin. Rome, of course, was the occupying and oppressive cultural, political, and military empire in the region at the time. As with American currency, the denarius included an image of an important political leader; in this case, Emperor Tiberius. And, as with American currency, there was an inscription on the coin. Each denarius was inscribed with the phrase, “Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus” (or, in other words “Tiberius, the Son of God”).
With those two points in mind, let’s revisit the story. The Pharisees and Herodians are trying to trick Jesus by asking him a question that seems to have only two answers, either of which will get Jesus in trouble. Just when they think they have him cornered, Jesus asks them to show him the coin used to pay the tax to Caesar. The second that the coin emerges from the purse the Pharisees and Herodians are exposed as hypocrites and blasphemers.
The effect is the same as the climactic scene of your favorite law drama where the truth finally comes out and everyone gasps in astonishment. So, let’s try it again, this time gasp in astonishment at the end of the next sentence: The second that the coin emerges from the purse the Pharisees and Herodians are exposed as hypocrites and blasphemers.
Why is that gasp-worthy? Here they are in the holy temple caught with the very definition of idolatry–a coin with a graven image of someone other than the Lord claiming to be God. Every Hebrew knew it was blasphemous to have such a coin in the holy temple (which is why there were money changers in the temple). Jesus doesn’t even have to answer their question at this point because the Pharisees’ and Herodians’ credibility has been destroyed. And yet, Jesus does answer, essentially saying, “Give that sacrilegious worthless coin to the sacrilegious worthless leader who occupies and oppresses us; and give everything else to the one and only real God--the Lord.”
The text says the Pharisees and Herodians walked away amazed; but feel free to come up with a better word to describe their emotions in the moment. I imagine it wasn’t so much that they were amazed, as it was they were embarrassed, ashamed, exposed, and humbled.
Hypocrisy is one of the worst characteristics anyone, especially a leader, can demonstrate, and yet there is no consistent punishment for hypocrisy. You can’t be arrested for being a hypocrite. And if you find enough people who agree with you, you can all be hypocrites together and never have to deal with the consequences. Hypocrites change the rules of the game to suit their own needs and get away with it as long as, in their mind, the ends justify the means. And when power is concerned, hypocrites are confident that the ends always justify the means.
The good news of this biblical lesson is that Jesus demonstrates that the Lord God is equipped to humble and weaken those who employ hypocrisy in order to cling to worldly power. The way of Jesus Christ cuts through hypocrisy and exposes its weakness. True power comes from God and from being a disciple of Christ. Tiberius can have his coins; but God gets everything else: everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Phil. 4:8).
The good news, my Christian brothers and sisters, is that we do not belong to Caesar, but rather, we belong to God. We are not created in Caesar’s image, we are created in God’s image.
The good news is that the hypocrisy of worldly leaders (as well as our own hypocrisy) is always exposed when subjected to the light of Christ. Anyone who amasses worldly power by changing the rules of the game and justifies it by claiming the ends justify the means will walk away amazed/humbled/defeated by Christ.
Jesus invites us engage in the regular practice of prayerful introspection and evaluation in order to see if we’re carrying around any graven images--that is, anything in our purse, or bank account, or social media feed perhaps, that proves we are pledge allegiance to something or someone other than God alone.
Once we identify these graven images (and we all absolutely have them) we can humbly and confidently come before the Lord in confession. And having identified and confessed our graven image, we receive the forgiveness, freedom, and true power to walk in the light of Christ and make a positive difference in the world. Hear the good news and be the good news.
Amen.
