42 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
42 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Luke 20:19–26"
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date = "2023-01-24"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk20.19-26)
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It's kind of a big deal for the chief priests to be told that they aren't
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actually going to be inheriting the kingdom of God. They and the scribes (other
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experts of the Scriptures) were understandably upset by this, but instead of
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wondering what could be done about that situation, they instead try to destroy
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the one who said it. But they didn't want public opinion to turn on them, so
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they tried to come up with a way to get the Romans to do it for them.
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Being a conquered, oppressed people, the Jews did not appreciate the taxes Rome
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imposed upon them. If they could get Jesus to take a public stance on taxes,
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either the people would hate Him for encouraging people to pay the tax, or the
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Romans would arrest Him for saying they shouldn't. They send in spies to be
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part of His audience while He teaches at the temple, and with flattery they
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pose the question to Him. "[According to the Law of Moses,] is it lawful for us
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to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" (_v. 22_)
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Instead of answering directly, Jesus asks him to show a denarius. This was a
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silver coin worth a laborer's wages for a day, that was appropriate to pay
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Rome's tax. Whose name and face are on this coin? Caesar's, of course. Who does
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the tax belong to? Caesar, of course. But then Jesus also says to give God what
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He is owed as well. By pointing out the similarities between civil government
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and God's authority, Jesus can thus not be accused of being disloyal to His own
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people or the governing authorities.
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There are many places in the Bible where God's people are commanded to obey the
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civil authorities. The main reason for this is that everyone who is placed over
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us was put there by God in one way or another. Whether we like it or not,
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whether we agree with the policies implemented or not, whether they do a good
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job of it or not. The only exception is when they order us to go against God's
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commands, and then we appeal to the higher authority, even if the earthly
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government doesn't recognize it.
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* * *
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Let us be wise and gracious in our speech like Jesus.
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