Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22

Then after the Pharisees went out they took each other to plan how they should trap Him in words.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians while saying, “We have known that you are truthful and you also teach the way of God in truth and it is of no concern to you regarding anyone.  For you do not make judgments into the face of a man.  Therefore, speak to us what you think.   Is it permitted to give a tax to Caesar or not?”  But after Jesus knew their wickedness He said, “Why do you test me, you pretenders?  Show me the coin of the tax.”  And they brought to Him a denarius.  And He says to them, “Of whom is the image and inscription of this?”  They say to Him, “Caesar.”  Then He says to them, “Therefore give the things of Caesar to Caesar and the things of God to God.”  And after hearing they marveled.  And after departing from Him, they went away.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this passage Matthew takes great pains to make villains out of the Pharisees and the religious elite.  Notice that they plan to trap Jesus.  They meet secretly in order to devise ways to attack Jesus.  This is clear proof of their rejection of Jesus.  They are not interested in listening.  The purpose of their conversation is not to find out more information.  Their purpose is now to find out a way to get rid of Him.  These are the religious elite.  These are the people in power seeking ways to keep and maintain their status quo.  They are not interested in the change that God is bringing to the world through Jesus.  They are interested in preserving their life as they know it and getting rid of the thing in their presence that is threatening change.

Have you ever been threatened by change?  What is legitimately scary about change?  What allows you to overcome a fear of change in order to be obedient to God and the change that He brings to life?

Second Thought:

I also find the comments made by the Heriodians and the disciples of the Pharisees to be interesting.  They flatter Jesus.  They try to soothe Him with words.  They are trying to destroy Him, but they seek to cover up their malice with goodness.  Truthfully, it is passages like this that have always caused a sense of alert within me whenever I meet someone who feels the need to compliment me more than I might expect from an acquaintance.  It is a sad but true statement that too many compliments is usually simply a cover for a deceptive or malicious undertone.  Nothing is gained – and everything is lost – when we try to cover up malice with goodness.  It is akin to using a strong gravy to cover up an overcooked roast.  No matter how much gravy you put on the roast, it is still overdone and dry.  No matter how much these Herodians and disciples of the Pharisees compliment Jesus, they are still looking to be done with Him.

Have you ever been caught by someone who won you with compliments?  Have you developed a sense of wariness when someone seems to be complimenting you too much?  Have you ever tried to cover your own dislike with pleasantries?  How does such action really make you feel inside?

Third Thought:

Finally, let’s get to this parable.  The coin bears Caesar’s image and inscription.  Therefore, Jesus says to give it to Caesar.  I think that there are two points worth bearing out in this teaching.

• Jesus is clearly teaching that God is concerned with things other than money or status.  The stuff of God is not the same stuff that people who are in power usually crave.  What the world desires and craves is not what God or His people crave.  So let them lust after the transient things of this world while God and God’s people pursue eternal things.
• I think that there is a deeper application to this teaching.  Didn’t God make this world?  Technically, could we not make a case – as many have made in the past – that everything in this world is God’s?  Therefore, If Jesus desired He could have argued that Caesar incorrectly stamped his name on God’s stuff.  But you notice that this isn’t the way God goes.  God isn’t interested in the power struggle.  God isn’t interested in making sure everyone knows where the true line of power lies.  What God is interested in doing is backing away from those people who crave power while simultaneously looking for those people who are willing to humble themselves to Him.  God is not interested in power struggle.  He is interested in submission.

Have you ever seen this passage in the light of spiritual submission?  Why is God ultimately not concerned with the coin?  Why is Jesus able to use this approach of humbleness to diffuse the trap of the Pharisees?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 22:23-33