Jeff Adams

I think I’ll chase this rabbit a bit longer. Yesterday I was reflecting on how Jesus dealt with tough questions and what we can learn from his example. I don’t know about you, but just about the time I think I’ve done a really Christ-like job of handling a tough question, someone comes up on my blind side and slams me into tomorrow.

They didn’t give up trying to trap Jesus after just one shot either. The saga continues in Mark’s Gospel. After the exchange we saw yesterday, Jesus presses back with a parable about a man who built a vineyard and leased it out after he moved away. When it came time to send for his share of the profits of the harvest, the vineyard folks beat his servant to a bloody pulp and send him away empty-handed. He continued to send servants to collect, but they continued to beat them and even killed some of them. Finally, he send his own son thinking that they would at least respect him. Instead, they killed him, too!

Then, Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 about the builders rejecting the stone that is the head of the corner. The Jewish leaders are furious. I’m not sure how much of the spiritual imagery they capture, but they have no problem understanding that Jesus is using this parable to speak against them. Ironically, they try to fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 118 immediately by trying to lay hands on Jesus, but they fear a riot will ensue because of the crowd of people.

For their next attempt to trap Jesus, they come to him with a new issue. I suppose I could insert a hyperlink here, but some of you wouldn’t look at it, so I am going to lay out the passage here so you can catch the context.

And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him. Mark 12:13-17

For many Jews of that day, paying Roman taxes is one of the hot issues (so, what’s changed?). They terribly resent paying taxes to a foreign government of occupation. Some make it a theological issue because of Caesar’s image on the coins along with inscriptions that speake of his deity. They use the excuse that to touch such coins with pagan deities on them is to deny the true God (shades of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny!!!) Jesus had better be careful how he answers. If he says to pay taxes, they will accuse him of being a compromising heretic.

Notice the presence of Herodians mixed in with the Pharisees. We don’t know that much about the Herodians except that they are a group that is more political than religious. They are supporters of Herod and many of them are highly placed in society. This makes this question all the more explosive. Should Jesus suggest not paying taxes they will run straight to the Roman authorities and accuse him of sedition. Isn’t it interesting how both sides of this issue find a way to come together in opposition to Jesus?

How does Jesus deal with this tough, no-win question? The Jews still live as though they were under the theocracy (government directly under God) established by God through Moses. Though the truth of the law is still truth, the theocratic government from the days of Moses had been forfeited due to sin and the government destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia. In Jesus’ day Rome controlled the land, and the theocracy exists only in the minds and arguments of certain pious Jews in Jerusalem. What Jesus does is brilliant as you might expect. In essence, he declares that they no longer live under the theocratic covenant, but that they are to give God what he requires and to whatever human government God establishes they are to give it what is required. Paul deals with this more completely in Romans 13:1-7.

In other words, Jesus rejected both options and set up totally new parameters. To this day, believers in countries around the world, including our own, look to this passage as establishing the separation of church and state.
What can I learn from this?

• Beware of dishonest, trick questions. As we saw yesterday, I repeat, you are not obligated to play by dishonest rules established by someone else to attack you. Some questions are not worth answering.
• When challenged to choose between two options, always look for a third. Jesus was an “out-of-the-box” thinker before that phrase became trendy. Almost always there is another alternative in addition to what is presented. Look for it.
• Consider the source. Pay attention to who is asking the question and who else is involved. Opposition to Jesus can bring even fierce enemies together. You had better not choose sides when both sides are against you! Choose only God’s side.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 9th, 2008 at 10:11 pm and is filed under Scriptural Application for Everyday Life, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.