Daily Lesson for February 21, 2019

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Mark chapter 12 verses 13 through 17:

13 Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.’ 16And they brought one. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ 17Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him.

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Now here is a famous Scripture which has been made much of in relation to the principle of Church and State — too much, in fact. For Jesus did not live in a time where religion and state were at all separate and he was not interested enough in political theory and framework to be setting down some kind of principle for governance. 

What Mark’s having included this passage in his account of Jesus’ life was meant to do was to show how sick and colluding a system it was that attempted to use the contentious question of taxation to discredit Jesus. Taxes to the Empire — this was the original wedge issue in 1st century Judea.  And the question was put to Jesus, not because his interlocutors wanted the problem solved, but because they wanted to impugn him with his answer to it. 

Jesus showed his brilliance with his creative and also evasively street smart answer. 

“What do you think about our support of Israel?”

“What about the flag in the sanctuary?”

“What about kneeling at the National Anthem?”

I wonder if we really want the answers — often nuanced and not altogether “Yes” or “No” — or if we just want the soundbites as ammunition in a larger game of gotcha politics and gotcha religion. 

Jesus refused to play the game — and very brilliantly so.

All money belongs to Caesar because it has Caesar’s image; and so too for the same reason do all people belong to God.

All patriotism is about Caesar.  Be very careful when you hear it being made out about God.