Image and Inscription

** I am indebted to Ray VanderLaan for much of the teaching in this post.

Apparently, in the midst of this story telling from Jesus during this week, these spiritual leaders decide it’s time to go on the offensive. The Pharisees and Sadducees work together (which is almost unfathomable; the two parties cannot stand each other) to try and trap Jesus in order to remove him from his place of influence.

One of the great Jewish debates of Jesus’s day was the debate that swirled around paying “taxes.” These “great debates” were fueled in large part by two rabbinic voices we haven’t talked about much. However, to understand the context of these two rabbinical schools is to have a much clearer perspective on the Jewish world of Jesus.

In the rabbinical generation that preceded Jesus, there were two rabbis who argued vehemently about the great Jewish debates. As we’ve seen, there was a conservative rabbi who held an interpretation of the law driven by the priorities of obedience (more on this in a later post). His name was Shammai. In the other corner was a rabbi who held to a much more progressive interpretation revolving around love for one’s neighbor. His name was Hillel. These two worldviews competed passionately over the interpretation of the law in matters of great debate.

Nevertheless, in order to understand the context of the debate about taxes, we need to first point out that the real issue isn’t about taxes at all. The gospel of Luke seems to give us clues by choosing the Greek word kensos to speak of taxes. The King James Version translates this more accurately as “tribute.” The debate isn’t asking about paying taxes as you and I would be familiar with paying taxes. In fact, the tribute they speak of was a particular coin that every resident in the Roman world was expected to purchase. This tribute coin could be used as a “receipt” that proved you had paid tribute to Caesar and to Rome. Upon validation of this receipt, you could be given incense at any number of different outposts where tribute was paid. You would offer the incense — and your worship — to Caesar.

Ruins of the temple at Omrit, just south of Caesarea Philippi

It should be worth noting that we have uncovered one of three tribute temples constructed by Herod the Great less than two miles from Caesarea Philippi, where the disciples have recently been, before Jesus set his course toward Jerusalem.

Now, understanding this context helps us understand the question being debated. It’s not just about paying money; the question is about idol worship. Realize that amongst the differing Jewish responses we’ve looked at before, there would have been differing opinions.

HERODIAN: “Sure, pay the tribute; God knows what’s in your heart.”

SADDUCEE: “Of course. Do you know what Rome gives us? Don’t make them angry!”

ESSENE: “You don’t have to pay tribute when you live out here in the desert…”

ZEALOT: “Anyone who offers tribute deserves to die!”

The PHARISEES, however, were split on the issue, depending on whether they held to Shammai or Hillel’s interpretation. Shammai Pharisees would have claimed this is an issue of idolatry and obedience demands we not purchase the coin. However, Hillel had a much different interpretation. Pointing to the book of Jeremiah and showing that God says He was using Nebuchadnezzar (one of the most brutal tyrants in human history) to do His will and the kingdom was being given to him, Hillel said that the ruling authorities are put in place by God. Therefore, when one buys the tribute coin, they are not taking part in idolatry, but simply giving back to the ruler what God has decided in His sovereign will to give him in the first place.

Notice the trap they set for Jesus:

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

In this sole mention of the Herodians, it is pointed out that they are conspiring along with the Hasidim, the very people who have an opposing worldview. They are setting Jesus up for failure. No matter how he answers, he’s going to make one of the groups angry; he’s either going to look like a compromising idolator or he’ll lose favor with the people.

But Jesus is a brilliant teacher.

He asks somebody to give him a coin — which is a really funny move. They are standing on the Temple Mount, where it is unlawful in Judaism to have Roman currency. In the words of my teacher, this is like a person questioning your position on pornography, and in response you ask for a Playboy and somebody hands you one. You’ve now shown the teacher where you fall in the argument, but he still hasn’t told you anything about his own opinion. We would assume one of the Herodians produced the coin, but still, that’s funny.

Jesus wants to know two things: whose image and whose inscription?

Now the image will be of Caesar and the inscription is going to speak of the divinity and worship of Caesar as a divine god. The tribute coin I have seen in person contains the inscription, “The worshipped son of a worshipped god.”

The people answer, “It’s Caesar’s inscription.”

The implication here is an unspoken question: Whose image and whose inscription is on you?

And in a stunning moment fit for a poetry slam, Jesus declares, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” Actually, the King James Version will nail the translation again with the word “render.” The word render means “to give back.” Jesus uses Hillel’s position, but not without making it crystal clear that your worship belongs to God and God alone.

In other words, Jesus says, “Give Caesar his stupid coin, but don’t you EVER give him your worship!”

**mic drop**

And in that moment, every group is challenged by his words. The Herodians. The Shammai Pharisees. The Hillel Pharisees. The Sadducees. The Zealots.

It’s brilliant.

It challenges us, as well. It challenges us to consider the things we pledge allegiance to. It challenges us to consider the things that become the object of our hope — and our worship. It challenges us to wonder whether there can be another Empire other than God’s.

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.