Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s: This story also appears in Matthew 22 and Luke 20
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.
Moreton, Dorset: 5th June 2025
There is a war on. The temple authorities, the leaders and custodians of the Jewish nation, are determined to be rid of Jesus. He has seriously upset them.
It is Passover. Jerusalem is at bursting point with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims swelling the crowd at the Temple. Their Temple. This Jesus is attracting attention. With so many eyes and ears around, they need to get this right. They need to catch him out in his own words. They want him out of the way. They want him arrested. They want him dead.
They have tried questioning his authority. In reply he told them a parable in which they, the leaders of Israel, were portrayed as the villains. Publicly humiliated, they are forced to retreat.
I can’t escape the idea that there was some kind of secret meeting place, some kind of strategic command point, hidden within the temple, where the leaders of every faction, religious and political, have come together to organise the disposal of Jesus. It is to this headquarters that they withdraw and make their humiliating report. It is quickly agreed that it is time for a new tactic.
Now, like a new tactical deployment in a war game, The Herodians approach Jesus. They are a political group who support the tetrarch King Herod. Herod sees himself as ‘King of the Jews’ and his supporters would be deeply angered by people openly applying that name to Jesus. The Herodians are not a religious faction, but they are sent into battle alongside some Pharisees. These two groups are unlikely partners. But these are challenging times. The need is urgent. Even past enemies sometimes unite in common purpose on the field of battle.
Rather than trying to catch Jesus out by leading him into blasphemy, they try to catch him out in treason against Caesar. They begin with false flattery. ‘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 the truth.’ (v14)
This thinly veiled attempt to soften him up, is followed up by what is intended as a killer blow. ‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?’ If Jesus encourages payment to Rome he is in effect colluding with the Roman occupiers of Israel. This would give the Pharisees the opportunity to stir up the crowd against him as a collaborator. On the other hand, if he criticises the payment of taxes to Rome, the Herodians have him. He will be guilty of treason against Caesar. It’s a two pronged attack. Their confidence is high.
Jesus knows exactly who these people are. If he doesn’t recognise them personally (he probably does), their style of dress indicates the factions which they represent. He recognises the trap. He recognises the hypocrisy.
‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius..’ Roman coins carry the head of the ruling Caesar. Not, I suspect, the response they had anticipated. A coin is quickly found.
‘Whose head is this and whose inscription?’ The answer is obvious. It’s Caesar Augustus. They hold their breath, ready to pounce. ‘Give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar…’ The Herodians can’t argue with that. The Pharisees can! The excitement of the Pharisees crumbles when they hear the words ‘Give to God the things which are God’s.’ The Pharisees can’t argue with that.
There is a moment while it sinks in. Neither the Herodians nor the Pharisees can stir up the crowd. They set out to humiliate him in front of the crowd. Once more, he has turned the tables on them.
Another skirmish lost. Embarrassed, the joint forces of the Pharisees and Herodians beat a retreat to that hidden command post where the strategy is under constant review.
With each lost battle, with each public humiliation, the determination to destroy Jesus increases.
End Piece
There was an expectation within contemporary Judaism that the Messiah would rid Israel of the Roman invaders, re-establishing the Kingdom of God. Jesus had the opportunity to take a very public stand against the Romans. He didn’t take it.
‘Give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar.’ You are called to live in this world. Even Jesus seems to accept that payment of taxes are one of the few certainties of life. The word translated as ‘give’ or ‘render’ means to ‘pay back’ or ‘give what is due’.
I’m interested that, when these verses are quoted, the second part often gets overlooked. We forget it’s there. That, in case you haven’t noticed, is the really important bit. If Jesus hadn’t said it, the Pharisees would have been all over him! The message is simple. Every good thing that you have comes from God (James 1 17). Jesus isn’t just referring to money. Time. Resources. Gifts. This phrase becomes ‘Give to God what he is due’. Your time. Praise. Worship.
There is no area of your life ‘off limits’ here. In every area of your life, you need to give God that which is due to him. Relationships. School. College. Workplace. Neighbours. Friends. Family. Relationship. Marriage. Finances. Leisure. Nothing in your life is off limits when it comes to your relationship with Jesus. Not even your personal ministry.
You are called to live in this world (John 15:19). But you are not of this world (John 17:14). You are called serve Jesus. You are called to live differently. That’s counter cultural. That’s what it means to follow Jesus.
‘Give to God that which belongs to God.’ (Mark 12:17)