February 17, 2008: The Rule Has Been Disproved (3 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

The trap is set for Jesus. The question is posed to Jesus about who should or should not pay taxes and if one should or should not pay the taxes to Caesar. This is a loaded question as taxation (or tribute) was symbolic of the oppression of the Romans over Israel. The taxes were burdensome, and in the minds of the Jewish people unfair. Rome was getting rich off their hard work. So if Jesus says that they should pay taxes he immediately loses and audience with the hard core who are Anti-Rome. If Jesus says that they should not pay taxes he is treasonous. So he asks to see a coin … it has an Image on it. Jesus discredits those who are asking the question, because an observant Jew would never have a coin with an image on it, this was breaking the third commandment. Jesus remarks Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. So just what is God’s? Everything … the whole earth (Ps. 24.1). The implication then is that Caesar has nothing.