By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v15The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions. v16Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod’s party. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God’s will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone’s status. v17Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?” v18Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? v19Show me the coin for paying the tax!”
They brought him the coin, v20and he asked them, “Whose face and name are these?” v21″The Emperor’s,” they answered. So Jesus said to them, “Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.” v22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. – Matthew 22:15-22
Somebody said that other than death tax is the great equalizer in this life today. Like it or not, you have to pay your taxes when you buy anything for your daily needs, the value added tax (VAT). The trouble is that understanding taxation requires more than a genius mind. Even Albert Einstein admitted, “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Tax is defined as a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions: “higher taxes will dampen consumer spending”. Taxes are mandatory contributions levied on individuals or corporations by a government entity—whether local, regional, or national. Tax revenues finance government activities, including public works and services such as roads and schools, or programs such as Social Security and health care. It is this human imposition that Jesus’ nemesis used to trap him by asking, “Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?”
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For a very rare occasion the Pharisees and the Herodians came together to trick Jesus that they might find a reason to prohibit him from doing his work with the people. The Herodians were a non-religious Jewish party who supported the dynasty of Herod and the general policy of the Roman government. They perceived that Christ’s pure and spiritual teaching and influence were antagonistic to their interests. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were members of an ancient Jewish sect who believed in the strict observance of oral traditions and the written Law of Moses. They didn’t believe that Christ was the Messiah, despite His many miracles during His earthly ministry. Although Herodians and Pharisees were at opposite ends of the political spectrum, their common hatred of Christ was enough for them to join forces to try to destroy Him. The question they asked on tax hope to show Jesus was disloyal either to those who advocated forming a Jewish state (Pharisees) or the Roman Empire (Herodians). Either way, Jesus would have stirred up enemies. He turned the tables, however, by asking the ultimate question: Where do your loyalties lie? Once again, the people living in the Holy Land are faced with this life-changing question with the raging Israeli-Hamas war. But that is another story.
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The Gospel also reminds us that we are member of God’s kingdom and citizens of the country in which we live, with obligations to both. As Christians we are not only members of the church but also members of society. Tensions can exist between loyalty to God and our duty to our country especially when political question touch upon faith and morality. Religion and politics do mix and overlap, so crucial issues of conscience occasionally emerge. In these instances, we must put God and His laws first even if it brings us into conflict with the state. We are obliged to bring the gospel of Jesus into every aspect of our life. Normally, conflicts of interest are rare and our loyalty to the law of our country need not contradict our obedience to God. A good Christian, by keeping his thoughts on heaven while having his feet firmly planted on earth, can love God and country and be faithful to both.
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At the core, the issues raised by this biblical passage are ones of allegiance. If God owns all, then we belong to God alone. Yet we live a life in which competing powers and influences vie to own us, to sway us, to capture our hearts. The tendency, for example, for what we own to exert ownership on us (“you cannot serve both money and God”) means we need to guard against consumerism and materialism as competing allegiances to our loyalty to God. The questions raised by this text and our preaching of it must address the call of Jesus to live in wholehearted allegiance to God, while navigating in life contexts that often pull at that allegiance. Such navigation is not easy, and we would do well to seek God’s wisdom and discernment as we desire to follow Jesus in a world full of siren songs. Yet Jesus is the source of God’s wisdom–his wisdom shows through in his answer to this test by the Pharisees and Herodians. The issue of allegiance and loyalty confronts us again this coming Barangay and Samahang Kabataan local elections. Our basis of selection should always be based on the biblical guidance of leadership and of course our seeing beyond the persons and the promises they are making during their public campaigns. “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:15). “Rank is given you to enable you to better serve those above and below you. It is not given for you to practice your idiosyncrasies” (General Bruce C. Clarke, USA, Ret).
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Christian life in the world should result in giving a certain tone to society. We are chosen to be saving hands of Christ and are called to spread the good news in different ways, on many levels. Every person must show a proper interest in the well-being of society. Living in an imperfect world highlights the need for Christian men and women in public life who are not afraid to express their allegiance to God in social and religious affairs. Their fresh vision points out spiritual values which others would fail to take into account. The most important goal for all of us is to work out our salvation by God’s grace. It takes a lifelong effort to give to God what is due. This is something we must keep uppermost in our minds. By remaining steadfast in out faith, at home and in public life, we show that our reward is not to be sought in this world. If we have been neglectful in these matters we can start now by coming before God in worship and offer ourselves completely to him in union with Jesus Christ on the altar.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 24 Collect, BCP)**
