A Lesson from a Question (2)

In Luke 20:20-26, we read about a trick question that Jesus faces. He answers with a question in order to set up His response. Let's take a look:

Keeping a close watch on Him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something He said so that they might hand Him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned Him: “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right [a Man of integrity], and that You do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity [knowing their hypocrisy] and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap Him in what He had said there in public. And astonished by His answer, they became silent.

Pretending to be honest in their intentions, the spies come to Jesus and, after proclaiming the truth that He is a Man of integrity, speaking and teaching the truth of God, though they themselves did not believe that at this point, ask Him a question, intending to trap Him.

They ask if it’s right to pay taxes. If Jesus says, “Yes,” then the Pharisees will accuse Him of not being loyal to God. If Jesus says, “No,” then they’ll accuse Him of a political coup attempt against Rome. In their eyes, He can’t win; but in His eyes, He can’t lose.

"He saw through their duplicity." He knew their hypocrisy. They weren’t being honest with God or with men. Matthew’s gospel says that He called them hypocrites. And like Jacob’s tangible wrestling match with God, Jesus gives them a tangible illustration of His answer to their “impossible question.” He responds to their question with a question. “Is it right to pay taxes? …Whose portrait and inscription are on the coin? Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s.”

But that’s not the end of Jesus’ answer. He doesn’t say, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” and stop there. That would have been enough, I suppose. But Jesus presses the matter back to them. “Give to God what is God’s.” We read that they were unable to trap Him in His response. They were astonished and became silent.

They hadn’t asked about paying anything to God. Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus introduced the concept to convict them. Had their inquiry been honest, they would have followed up with another question: “What is God’s?”

Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him.” They had a coin right there. Jesus is effectively saying it’s right to pay taxes. But He qualifies that answer by saying that we must also give to God what belongs to Him. They should’ve asked, “What belongs to God?” Here we learn something from the question that is not asked. They were silent. Matthew’s gospel says that they left Him and went away.

How do you think Jesus would have responded to that question had it been asked? What belongs to God? You do. And I do. Give to Caesar what belongs to him. Pay your taxes; live a life of honesty and integrity in the world. But give to God what is God’s. Give Him yourself. You are not your own. You were bought with a price.