Lectionary Reflection—22 October 2017
15-17That’s when the Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent their disciples, with a few of Herod’s followers mixed in, to ask, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, teach the way of God accurately, are indifferent to popular opinion, and don’t pander to your students. So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18-19Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? Do you have a coin? Let me see it.” They handed him a silver piece.
20“This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name’s on it?”
21They said, “Caesar.”
“Then give Caesar what’s his, and give God what’s God’s.”
22The Pharisees were speechless. They went off shaking their heads.b
18-19Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? Do you have a coin? Let me see it.” They handed him a silver piece.
20“This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name’s on it?”
21They said, “Caesar.”
“Then give Caesar what’s his, and give God what’s God’s.”
22The Pharisees were speechless. They went off shaking their heads.b
I really don’t like it when people ask me a question to which they already know the answer. You know the ones? Like when you were 011c and supposed to take out the trash and your Mom asks you if you did it while she’s holding the trash bag and calling to you from another room? Yeah…those type of questions.
That’s what’s going on in this passage this morning. This passage comes right after the previous ones where Jesus was taking to task the Religious Leaders of his day. He told a few scathing stories that were about them because of their violence, intolerance, and (for the lack of a better word) wickedness (Matthew 21.23-Matthew 22.14). In each of his stories, he tells them that they’ll be brought to justice and held accountable for their iniquity.
And they didn’t like it.
In fact, they were so angry with him that they were trying to find a way to get him arrested (Matthew 21.45-46). One of the things they came up with is the passage before us.
The summary of last week’s lesson could be the story of a king sending in his army to destroy a traitorous people and burn down their city (Matthew 22.1-14). The Message captures the scene very well, “That’s when the Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging” (Matthew 22.15; emphasis added). That’s it; he’s gone too far. They’ve had it with this young upstart and his thinly veiled attacks upon them. They’re going to try and find a way to get him out of the picture.
So they devised a way to trap him. They’d ask Jesus a question to which they already knew how he’d answer—“Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He’d either say the people should pay taxes (and, therefore, lose his following and be shown to be just like them) or he’d say they should not pay taxes (and, therefore, be seen as an revolutionary and disloyal to Rome). Either way, Jesus would lose all credibility and his infernal meddling into their affairs would be over.
And just to sweeten the pot—and no doubt remove any culpability from themselves—they sent some of Herod’s supports with their own followers. This is important because Herod was Rome’s representative in the region. If Jesus said the people shouldn’t be paying taxes to Caesar, Herod’s supporters would report this and Jesus would be arrested.
Again, either way, the religious leaders would be rid of Jesus.
Or so they thought…
As I’m working on this post, today is celebrated as “Columbus Day” in the United States. Although it’s often misstated that Columbus “discovered” the Americas, the second Monday in October is set aside to celebrate the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. However, there is some pushback to this holiday. Some people have campaigned that the name be changed to “Indigenous People’s Day” (or “Native American Day”) because of Columbus’ unjust practices and a lot of places have officially changed it. I in live is one of those places. Imagine being a Native American and having another group of people come to your land and claim it as their own. Then, the new group wants you, a native person, to pay them a tax for living on your land just because they claim it’s now theirs! How outrageous would that be? It’d be pretty outrageous indeed!
You can imagine, then, the scene in our story this morning. Jesus was being tested about his “patriotism”—would he side with Israel (and be labeled as an insurrectionist by the Romans) or would he side with Rome (and be labeled a “hater of Israel” and disloyal to Yahweh; not a “true Israelite”).
That’s another hot button topic right now in the United States. It seems if anyone protests any aspect of the United States—police brutality (especially against people (men) of color); taking away the health insurance of our most vulnerable citizens (including the elderly, women, children, veterans); discrimenitory laws against LGBTQ persons; etc.—one’s labeled as “hating America” and should be fined or fired or physically assaulted or worse. The bully’s are once more raising their heads in pride that they can silence others they deem weak.
So Jesus is an a real dill of a pickle. But, being Jesus, he wasn’t easily fooled.
At times, I think we’re too easily fooled. One of the aspects of being a follower of Jesus is speaking truth to power. And sometimes that means pointing out things that are unjust even within your own country, community, work environment, or even our homes. While it might not be a pleasant experience or a popular one, it’s an important role. Being a follower of Jesus means siding with the oppressed, the marginalized, those who are seen as “weak” by the bullies. And make no mistake about it, by sided with the oppressed, you’ll be labeled, too. Maybe even by your own family and friends.
Jesus confronts the bullies and let’s them know he’s on to their little scheme. “Why are your playing these games with me,” he asks them. “Why are you trying to trap me? Let me see a coin.”
The tricksters look around sheepishly; they know he’s on to them. But they really can’t see a way out of it for Jesus. The hand him a coin.
“Whose image is this?” Jesus asks them.
“Well, that’s Caesar. You do know who Caesar is, don’t you?” They ask rather smugly. I’m sure the bullies felt that now the trick was once more in their favor. They were probably thinking, “He’s just a stupid carpenter. We’re way smarter than he is!”
Then Jesus nonchalantly hands them back their coin and says, “Give Caesar what’s Caesar’s…”
“We’ve got him,” they’re thinking to themselves. “It’s all over for him now!” I can just see them smiling like the Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
“…and give God what’s God’s.”
The “holier than thou” expression and color drain from their faces. The religious opposition slowly walk away in stunned silence, shaking their heads.
I wish I could say that it’s just that easy when confronting bullies but we all know it’s not. Sure, once in awhile we might be able to walk away from a confrontation unscathed like Jesus does in this story. More times than not, though, we’re going to get hurt. The bullies seem like they have the upper hand all the time but they really don’t. They’re deceiving themselves and those who buy into their deception; those who wish to be just like them.
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “We may have lost the battle but not the war.” Christ has already won the war. These little battles are actually fought by those who don’t know the war’s over. I liken them to a stranded lone soldier from an ancient war bravely guarding his post. The war’s been over for several weeks but everyone forgot about him. Finally, some of the soldiers from the opposing side appear on the horizon. The lone soldier readies his defenses determining that he won’t be invaded or he’ll die in battle. The other soldier’s approach cautiously waving white flags of surrender and holding up banners of peace. The lone soldier doesn’t believe them; he thinks it’s all a trick. And the fight begins. The lone soldier is grossly outnumbered but he’s determined to take out as many as he can before he falls. But the invading soldiers aren’t trying to kill the lone soldier. They’re trying to convince him that the war’s over. That they’re now all brothers. It’s a hard battle. There will be some losses. But the war is really over.
That’s the way I see the world because of Christ. “You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,” John Lennon famously wrote. But every confrontation, every bully, every battle is a last ditch effort from those trying not to let go of their “old ways” and embrace the New Way of Love. It’s the Love of Christ that is truth and wisdom. May God grant unto us a deep Love for all things as we encounter the bullies desperately holding on to the “old ways.”
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In the Love of the Three in One,
Br. Jack+, LC
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- Scripture quotations marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
- That’s an Easter Egg for all of my readers who’ve watched Stranger Things on Netflix. I can’t hardly wait for Season 2!
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