Worship Resources, Prayers, Bible Study
Ordinary 29 Year A
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| Collect Prayer | |
| First Reading: | |
| Second Reading: | |
| Gospel Reading | |
| Post Communion Sentence | |
| Commentary: | |
| Meditation: | |
| Hymns | |
| Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead: | |
| Intercessions from our Sunday worship | |
| Sermon |
Introduction
Today in the the passage from Matthew, Jesus is placed in a difficult situation. He is asked whether it was right to pay tax to Caesar. Taxes are a difficult subject at any time and nobody likes them. But imagine if you were a faithful Jew living at the time of Jesus. The tax was a poll tax, paid in a Roman coin which had a graven image of the head of Caesar, and it was inscribed in a way which attributed to him divinity. Jesus was in a difficult position , but his answer was brilliant. He told his audience to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, but to give to God all that belonged to God. It was a huge contrast, Caesar could have coins cast in his image and call them his own, but every human being is created in the image of God. To Caesar belonged a person's taxes, to God belongs every life.
Opening Verses of Scripture Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray
O God, forasmuch as without you
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.CW
Faithful Lord,
whose steadfast love never ceases
and whose mercies never come to an end:
grant us the grace to trust you
and to receive the gifts of your love,
new every morning,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. CW
First Bible Reading Exodus 33: 12-23
Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.” Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’
The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The Lord”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the Lord continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’ NRSV
Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. NRSV
Gospel Reading Matthew 22:15-22
When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard the parables, they realized that Jesus was speaking about them. Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. NRSV
Post Communion Sentence
Holy and blessed God,
you have fed us with the body and blood of your Son
and filled us with your Holy Spirit:
may we honour you,
not only with our lips
but in lives dedicated to the service
of Jesus Christ our Lord. CW
Commentary
It is worth spending a few moments thinking about the Old testament reading from Isaiah this morning. It speaks about somebody called God’s "anointed Cyrus." Why did God anoint Cyrus and who was he ?
The important thing to note is that Cyrus was not a Jew, he was the king of Persia. He was one of the greatest conquerors in world history. He inherited the throne of Persia from his father Cambyses I in 559. He conquered the Medes and ruled over all that we know as Iran, but his crowning achievement was the conquest of Babylon in 539BC. Apart from Egypt the whole of the Near East was under the control of the Persians when he was eventually killed in battle in 530.
He was not a worshipper of Yahweh, the God of the Israelite. His polytheism is shown in him requesting the gods to pray for him to Nabu and Marduk his Lord, whom he claims to worship. He was probably also a Zoroastrian (a religion based on the teachings of Zarathustra, an Iranian holy man who lived sometime in the first millennium BC). We know this from the names of his children and we are told he set up a fire stand used in Zoroastrian worship.
The liberation of the Jews was by the hand of this polytheistic Persian potentate who allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland from their Babylonian captivity and encouraged them to rebuild their temple (Ezra 1:1-8) and take with them to Jerusalem sacred vessels which had been taken from the Temple.
In our reading Isaiah takes great effort to show that whilst Cyrus was the instrument for the liberation, it was God who had used him as an instrument for his purpose.
Cyrus is called God’s "anointed." This title which is used for a descendent of King David is now given to a pagan king. we are told that God had grasped the right hand of Cyrus which was a sign showing the giving of royal power.
God’s authority had been placed upon this pagan king to be used as God’s instrument to free his chosen people and enable them to return to the promised land and rebuild the temple. Cyrus never knew God, but he worshipped gods and God knew him and was able to work through him. It is important for us to understand that the work of our God is not restricted to the work of those who fully know or even seek him. Isaiah understands God at work in the lives of human beings who do not comprehend the bigger picture or the source of their desires and ability to achieve his purpose. It doesn't matter which god it is to which people pray or decide not to pray, Isaiah is clear they are still in God’s hands
Though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god.
Look around you at the world and see the good things which take place and the fight for justice and freedom. Those who are motivated to work for peace and protect the poor may not claim to worship our God, but nevertheless it is his spirit which grasps their right hand’ in order to bring about change and refuses to allow evil to overcome. God uses people of all faiths and none and works through them, sometimes this is necessary because God’s own people have failed to live up to their calling and have chosen wrong paths.
Now this makes sense when we understand that each and every human being is made by God. It matters not what is the colour of our skin, or whether we were born Hindu or Muslim or Zoroastrian, each one if has placed upon us the likeness of God. Think back to the opening chapter of Genesis
‘Let us make humankind in our image according to our likeness.’
Humanity cannot be separated into those people who were made by our God and other people who were made by other gods, we are all the children of the same heavenly Father. The DNA or code which is built into each and every human body and soul is that of the same God who created you and me, so we are all brothers and sisters, no matter how uncomfortably it might make us feel. The same God breathes his Spirit into our bodies and nurtures and sustains us all, without this there is not life, for all life is from God.
It is this point which Jesus makes in our New Testament reading when Herodians and Pharisees put aside their mutual loathing to join forces against Jesus. Remember that the last time we heard of the Pharisees it was when they realised that Jesus parable of the evil tenant farmers was directed against them. We know that they ‘took counsel’ against Jesus ‘how they might destroy him’. Now they come to him with a verbal trap, speaking respectful words they call Jesus ‘teacher’ but their have evil only evil intentions to put Jesus on the horns of a dilemma.
‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?
The Roman Empire collected a head tax on each and every citizen. The people resented the tax but they paid up because they had no other choice. If Jesus says ‘no, don’t pay Caesar’s tax’, then that would be the one thing which would guarantee to put him on the wrong side of the occupying force, failure to pay the tax which pays for your oppression is nothing short of a declaration of revolt against Rome. They could have Jesus arrested as a dangerous revolutionary. The Romans had filled many crucifixes with the bodies of many Jewish revolutionaries who had advocated not paying taxes.
If Jesus says ‘yes, pay the Romans’, then he will lose credibility and be rejected by the people who see him as a prophet who speaks the truth.
Jesus asks for a coin used to pay the tax, on it is the image of Caesar and also an engraved confession of the divinity of Caesar. ‘Son of God.’ Any Jew holding the coin is reminded that this breaks the first two commandments.
When Jesus proclaims those amazing words
‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’
Matthew uses the same word for likeness (ikon) as is used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of Genesis. At the very least there is a match here between the likeness of Caesar printed on the coin and the likeness of God which is stamped onto each and every human being. The statement by Jesus at its most forceful is a statement that Caesar is welcome to his coins but all created life and indeed all creation belongs to God.
Jesus teaches that we bear God’s likeness, we are God’s and in him is our purpose in life and our destiny. Each and every day we need to be reminded that we are so much more than just consumers or tax payers. We are encouraged by Jesus to see ourselves as God’s co-workers, engaged with God in his work of redemption, just like Cyrus. The choices we make about how we spend our time and our money, the aspirations which we have for our lives and our community, these must all be seen in the context of our shared life in God. Charles Royden
Meditation
At the beginning of our services, we will all say in response to the words, ‘The Lord be here’, ‘His Spirit is with us’. It is at one and the same time a statement of fact and a statement of faith. How we experience His being with us, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, may depend on how much we care to acknowledge God in our own lives. When Jesus was answering the question of the Herodians and the Pharisees He was answering their question with both fact and faith. Giving to Caesar was a fact. Taxes had either been given or not. Giving to God was faith. It is only be faith that we can give ourselves to God and believe that He has received us into a restored relationship with God through the forgiveness of our sins. Sometimes in our fact oriented and deterministic world we can lose sight of the fact that our spiritual experience is based on faith. A faith that is underpinned and enabled by knowledge and understanding, but a faith nonetheless. The law that the Pharisees espoused seemed to have been more about facts that faith, the knowledge and description of the rights and the wrongs, rather than an enabling framework to allow people to come to know God better. God’s presence was with the Israelites if they would but acknowledge it. It was with them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night when they were in the wilderness. It was with them in the Tabernacle and the Temple and through the gift of the Holy Spirit it is with us all now. And even thought the Israelites may not have always acknowledged Him, He would God would continue to lead and to guide them, in all their uncertain times and beyond, in the desert and in the Promised Land When we look out on the uncertainty in the world today we too need to remember that God will continue to lead us, His presence is with us wherever we are, even if we feel we don’t have the commandments and the word of God in tangible form with us.
Hymns
- Ye holy angels bright (Darwell’s 148th)
- Father I place into your hands
- I danced in the morning (Lord of the dance)
- Lord of our life and God of our salvation (Cloisters)
- King of glory, King of peace (Gwalchwai)
- Stand up and bless the Lord
- As we are gathered Jesus is here
- We come as guests invited
- Fight the good fight
- Christ the king! O friends (Christ is the king! O friends)
- Great is thy faithfulness
- Turn to me
- We have a gospel to proclaim
- We walk by faith
- Ye that know the Lord is gracious
- Abba father
- God our Hope (All my hope on God is founded)
- City of God, how broad and far
- Thou, whose almighty word
- Glorious things of thee are spoken
- The Lord is King! Lift up thy voice
- I will offer up my life
- Immortal, invisible, God only wise
- Jesus shall reign, where'er the sun
- Judge eternal, throned in splendour
- Lord, I lift your name
- Name of all majesty
- Rejoice, O land, in God thy might
- Rejoice! the Lord is King
- The kingdom of God is justice
- Give to our God immortal praise;
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian, if it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected, it will wither and die.
Holy God, help us to clear space in our lives where your holy presence my grow and produce fruit worthy of our great calling. Remove far from us those things which cause hurt to others and hurt ourselves. Plant seeds of joy and peace that love might grow and be shown as we live in harmony with others.
We thank you generous God for the world in which we live. We praise you for the beauty of the seasons with the varied opportunities which they provide to enjoy creation. We give thanks for night and day, a time for rest and sleep, and a time for play and work. We give thanks for people, all so wonderfully different, yet each created in your image. We give thanks for Jesus, our Saviour, at whose birth in Bethlehem a star lit up the sky, who died on a cross to show your great love for us all. Amen.
Eternal God, in the darkness of winter, and in the darkness of our broken world, the light of Jesus shines to give us courage and hope. Light up our hearts as we praise you and our minds as we hear your word. Give strength we pray to those who seek to bring your light into the dark places of our world. Bless those who are called upon to fight as they serve in armies in conflict zones. Give wisdom to those politicians and world leaders who negotiate to bring about reconciliation. Strengthen all of those who work to protect the vulnerable or show compassion to those whose lives have been subject to physical and spiritual distress.
We pray that your Holy Spirit would work in us to help us to serve you day by day. Give us eyes to see you at work in our lives and those around us. May the joy of your salvation burn brightly in our soul that your lost children would be drawn closer you.
Hear our humble prayers that we may serve you in holiness and faith and give voice to your presence among us until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Additional Material
Opening Verse of Scripture—Psalm 96:8
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
Collect Prayer for the Day—before we read, we pray
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Isaiah 45:1-7
This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armour, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.
Commentary
In rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s we are doing no more that Christ demands. We need to achieve a balance between our family, professional and community responsibilities, meet both their spiritual and temporal needs, and in so doing acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty over all. At the time Matthew was writing it was virtually impossible to separate politics and religion. The heated debate between Jesus and the Jewish authorities has come to a head. He's called the Pharisees discontented sons (they said they would work in the vineyard but then did not go), evil tenants (of the vineyard and who killed the owner’s son), and ill fated guests (at the wedding feast where they did not wear the robe of Christ). In last week’s readings Jesus challenged the entire religious fabric of the Jewish society. This week it’s the turn of politics. Today’s gospel reading sees the Pharisees in a bizarre collaboration with the Herodians as they try once more to get the upper hand. The Pharisees and the Herodians were normally in bitter opposition. The Pharisees resented the payment of taxes to Rome because it was against their religious convictions; the Herodians were the political party of Herod, king of Galilee, who owed their power to the Romans and were therefore content to pay for that privilege through taxes. But both parties saw Jesus as a threat and used the question of taxation as an opportunity to trap Him, either politically or failing that, theologically, depending on his reply. On the one hand, if he said that taxes should not be paid he would be brought before the Roman governor for sedition, on the other, if he said that taxes should be paid, he would be seen as affirming the status of Caesar and his authority, and be brought before the temple authorities by the Pharisees for blasphemy against the one true and sovereign God of the Jews. Jesus' answer is wise and perceptive, like many of his responses. Similarly, if we want to bring about God’s Kingdom in our society common sense, wisdom, perception and the appropriate response will be required.
But the very question itself was loaded, and, as with many loaded questions they are not really bothered about the answer. They are asking the question to try to trap Jesus and exert their power over Him. As we know, things don’t turn out as they expect. It’s almost as if Jesus, rather than not knowing what to say, responds with, ‘…I’m glad you asked that question…’ Over the past few weeks in the passages in Matthew leading up to this exchange we have been reading about people who refuse to give God His due, who will not rejoice with His Son, and who will not recognise Him for who He is. Jesus invites His hearers to give (literally restore and appropriate) to Caesar what is due to Caesar and to God what is due to God. A complex question does not always require a complex answer. Jesus’ answer is wise and challenging. It forces the Herodians to question what is Caesar’s that should be restored to Him, whilst at the same time challenging the Jewish authorities to restore the people of Israel and the Jewish religion itself to God and to give God His due. As last week, Jesus questions the foundations of the society to those who had posed the question to Jesus in the first place. And they had no answers, they went away speechless.
In the time of Jesus, the denarius bore the image of the emperor Tiberius, who ruled between 14 and 37 C.E., and an inscription: “Tiberius Caesar, Augustus, son of the divine Augustus, high priest.” Pharisees were particularly disturbed by the attribution of divinity to Caesar but also considered possession of this graven image to be idolatrous. They devised ways to pay this tax without possessing or handling the coin. It would be very shameful if a Pharisee produced the coin. But if a Herodian in the group produced the coin, the Pharisees would still be shamed by having selected unworthy allies. In either case, the fact that someone in their group possessed and produced the coin was shameful. Jesus’ first riposte to their challenge cuts deep. Jesus’ concluding exhortation, “Give to God the things that belong to God,” implies that neither the Pharisees nor the Herodians are doing that. This is a serious charge. The Pharisees were so devoted to observing the Torah’s 613 commandments that they put a “hedge around the Torah” and Jesus challenges both their understanding and their intent.
The image on the coin was Caesar’s; we are created in God’s image. If we are to give the coins to Caesar we are to give ourselves to God. But perhaps part of the problem for the hearers of this story is that whilst it was possible to give taxes to the Romans and have done with it, it wasn’t the same with giving themselves to God. Many would give taxes as it was a pragmatic way of coexisting peaceably with the Romans whilst maintaining a degree of religious independence. Even today, giving taxes is something of a one off transaction, even though we might pay monthly; giving ourselves to God, whilst it might start with a transaction like encounter, is a continuous process. One is a finite commitment and obligation, the other is an infinite invitation and an offer of a relationship with a bounteous God.
Sam Cappleman
Commentary
****
We should not be surprised by a Bible passage from Matthew today in which we read that the Pharisees want to trap Jesus into saying something which will either discredit him or place him in danger. Remember in Matthew Chapter 12 and Verse 14 we read
'The Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.’
There is a desire by the Jewish leaders to kill Jesus. His enemies are so intent on his destruction that they join forces across political and religious divides. The Pharisees were nationalistic, they were against the Roman occupation, and today they are seen collaborating with the Herodians who were royalists who supported Herod the puppet king of Rome, they wanted the status quo to remain. They try to ensnare Jesus and ask him a trick question, ‘Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’
The questioners start by calling Jesus 'Teacher', perhaps to put him off his guard by appearing to flatter him by showing respect. Nevertheless the sole intent is to cause Jesus to say something which might incriminate himself. The questioners also make the point that Jesus has no respect for wealth, position, or power. Such words encourage Jesus to fearlessly speak his mind, so to draw him into an answer which was either
- Critical of the emperors taxation of the Jews - so he would be an enemy of Rome
- Supportive of the tax - so he would be an enemy of the people
It is a brilliant question because it seemingly has no correct answer !
Let’s look at what this tax was
The tax concerned was a poll tax, it was an annual payment to the Roman occupying forces which was a painful reminder of the subjugation of the Jewish people. Hence it was always unpopular with the people. Roman taxation had sparked off a revolt two decades earlier in AD6 by Judas of Galilee which had been violently crushed by Rome. The popular opposition to Rome was expressed by those we call Zealots, revolutionaries who believed there was no king but God.
- If Jesus says that it is right to give taxes to Caesar then he discredits himself with the people.
- If Jesus says that tax should not be paid then his opponents are in a powerful position to present Jesus to the Romans as a dangerous revolutionary.
In answering Jesus asks to see a coin used to pay the tax. Most likely the coin in question bore the image of the emperor Tiberius who ruled Rome during those years (AD 14–37). One side of the coin would have deified Tiberius as a "son of the divine Augustus." The other side would have honoured him as the "Pontifex Maximus" or "chief priest" of Roman polytheism — which is to say that the two sides of the coin celebrated absolute religious and civil authority for Tiberius.
To a nationalistic Jew who confessed a radical monotheism, such a graven image was religiously offensive, contrary to the ten commandments and politically humiliating. Certainly much of the crowd would have been repulsed at the political, religious, and economic implications of honouring a pagan "god" by paying a tax to him. Why should poor peasants in Israel send their hard-earned money all the way back to Rome and its emperor?
For normal commercial use special copper coins were used without these features, so no Jew need handle the silver denarius, (probably minted in Lyon) except to pay his tax.
From the previous chapter Matt 21:23 it appears that Jesus is teaching in the temple when this takes place. Remember no Roman coinage was supposed to be in the temple, ever. All of that was to have been exchanged in the "court of the Gentiles." The Pharisees strongly endorsed this policy, quite publicly. Yet possibly here, in the sacred space of the temple, it appears the Pharisees possess the idolatrous image. Even if it is not in the Temple the Pharisees should not carry Roman coins, for they bear this blasphemous image of Tiberius Caesar and the inscription proclaiming him divine.
Jesus asks for the image to be identified. The fact that the questioners are able to produce the coin so quickly cut the ground from beneath their feet. They were using Caesar’s money. It is the picture and name of Caesar. So picture the scene: here is the true divine Son of God standing in the street beholding a graven image that represented all that was idolatrous about the cult of the Caesar. Then Jesus comes out with this famous phrase -
Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's
Or in the phrase of the King James
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;
and unto God the things that are God's.
Jesus is saying, let Caesar have his paltry coin. The image of Caesar is on the coin, it surely must belong to him. Yet more importantly, we are told that God created us in his image. If the image of Caesar on a coin meant that it was his, then surely the image of God on humanity means that we must render to God our whole being. I think that Jesus is calling us to recognise that his followers should not have double standards, we must not divide our lives into our God bit and our secular bit. It means that the things we think and pray about in church on Sunday must work themselves out during the week in the rest of our lives.
Now it is for each of us before God to sort that out and try to consider what it means. Somehow as we read the teachings of Jesus about how we should live, we have to take it to heart and make it real.
In our busy lives we are challenged today not to forget God and his claims on our lives. We belong to God, because we are fashioned in his image, all of us. We belong to God in all our being, with all our talents, interests, time, and wealth. Each one of us is a ‘coin of God’ he has stamped his divine image onto each of us. So we render our tax to Caesar but our whole lives to God. Amen Charles Royden
Commentary
The Romans were an occupying force, they had marched their army into Israel and they had taken over. Then they demanded money to sustain their occupation. If you and I were living there at that time, the chances are that we would have greatly resented the Romans and their tax. The tax was not an option. It was mandatory, if you did not pay taxes to Rome then you could be killed. Moreover whilst Jews did not place images of people on their coins, Caesar had placed his image on the coins. Around the picture of the emperor’s head were inscribed the words 'Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, and on the other side 'pontifex maximus' which would be understood as 'High Priest.' Paying the tax was a very tangible acknowledgement of submission to Rome, it was also a religious insult, because the coin was blasphemous.
Jesus is approached by two groups who have made a pact to try and trap him. They ask him whether it is right to pay taxes to Caesar. One group was the Herodians, who supported the family of Herod and who had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and peace. They were what we would think of as collaborators. The other group were disciples of the Pharisees, they were nationalistic Jews. They had not got a great in common but Jesus was the enemy of both and a common enemy makes strange bedfellows. and so they make a pact to trap Jesus. Jesus was in a pickle, if he suggested paying the tax, he would have alienated the devout religious Jew. If, on the other hand, he advocated that they not pay the tax, the Romans would have sprung on him for treason and for stirring up insurrection.
Jesus responds by asking, "Whose head (Greek: eikon -- icon
-- image) is this, and whose title?" The coin, of course, bears Caesar's
eikon and belongs to Caesar. The Pharisees' disciples answer, "Caesar's. "
Their reply half answers their question: they possess in this coin the
possession of another. Is it wrong to return property to its owner?"
The coin is an instrument of Caesar's government -- under
Caesar's control -- its value established by Caesar. It is available for
their use only because Caesar has ordered the mint to strike it and the
treasury to disburse it. It is an integral part of Caesar's realm.
So Jesus says, ‘Give back therefore to the emperor the things that are the
emperor's."
But there is a sting in the tail, ‘..and give back to God the things that
are God's’
We are all made in the image of God -- we bear God's image
-- and so it is appropriate to give ourselves back to God -- all that we
have and all that we are -- because we were created by the Word of God and
are an integral part of God's realm.
Jesus acknowledges our obligation as citizens to the state, but affirms our
larger obligation as human beings to God. Coins bearing Caesar's image may
belong to Caesar, but all things (coins, Caesar, Rome, the planet earth, the
universe) come from God and are under God's dominion. Caesar's realm is but
a speck within God's realm. The days of Caesar's realm are numbered, but
God's realm is eternal. Charles Royden
Commentary
In the readings over the past few weeks we've seen Jesus openly denounce the Jewish leadership.
He's called the Pharisees discontented sons (they said they would work in the vineyard but then did not go), evil tenants (of the vineyard and who killed the owners son), ill fated guests (at the wedding feast where they did not wear the robe of Christ).
This week's gospel reading sees the Pharisees collaborating with the Herodians to go on the counter attack. And because it was almost impossible to separate politics and religion in Israel, the question posed by the Pharisees and Herodians made sense to all who heard it.
Paying taxes was a real issue for many Jews living under the pagan power of Rome, where the Emperor himself was seen as a demi-god and who now effectively controlled the promised land. To many, paying taxes to Rome effectively sanctioned his power. Similarly withholding taxes had always been one of the ploys advocated by rebels of the day - indeed, remember the Poll Tax rebellion just a few years ago in the UK!
However, the question posed to Jesus was made all the more sinister because the Pharisees and the Herodians were normally in bitter opposition. The Pharisees resented the payment of taxes to Rome because it was against their religious convictions; the Herodians were the political party of Herod, king of Galilee, who owed their power to the Romans and were therefore content to pay for that privilege through taxes.
Both parties saw Jesus as a threat and used the question of taxation as an opportunity to trap Him, either politically or theologically, depending on his reply. On the one hand, if he said that taxes should not be paid he would be brought before the Roman governor for sedition, on the other, if he said that taxes should be paid, he would be seen as affirming the status of Caesar and his authority, and be brought before the temple authorities by the Pharisees for blasphemy against the one true and sovereign God of the Jews.
Jesus' answer is wise and perceptive, like many of his responses. It had to be, the question is literally an invitation to commit suicide. Strategies for living in society, especially if we want to bring about change, often require common sense, wisdom and perception. Jesus' response does not advocate withholding taxes. It appears that He is prepared comply and to pay them, just as He was also prepared react, knock tables over and drive money changers out of the temple when a different response was required.
The Pharisees taught that all things are God's, they believed God is God and God is one. They acknowledged this daily in their worship.
If everything is God's, all will be judged and measured, by His standards, including governments, regimes and the Pharisees own teaching and leadership. And by God's standards all would fall short.
Standing before Jewish and Herodian inquisitors was the source of ultimate power and authority, yet Jesus chose not to use, or abuse this power. Rather, He asked them to work things out for themselves, given His response and guidelines.
Today Jesus still gives us the guidelines by which we can make our own decisions and respond to the circumstances that confront us in our society. To give our dues to worldly authorities where appropriate and also to give to God that which is due to Him.
He alone is the ultimate power and authority, in whom we have our being. It is He who gives our lives true meaning. He gives us all that we are and all that we have. How changed the world would be if we took His words to heart and gave more of what we are, and more of what we have, back to God for His use and control. Sam Cappleman
Meditation
In rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's we are doing no more than Christ demands. We need to achieve a balance between our family, professional and community responsibilities, meet both their spiritual and temporal needs, and in so doing acknowledge the Lord's sovereignty over all.
At the time Matthew was writing it was virtually impossible to separate politics and religion. In a week where there has been the election of the Mayor of Bedford we are reminded that as Christians we too have a responsibility to be fully involved in our society and to perhaps renew the current general apathy and disinterest in politics with true religion, truth and freedom.
Hymns
- O for a heart to praise my God
- I am a new creation
- Take my life
- Hail to the Lord's anointed
- Morning has broken
- All I once held dear
- I heard the voice of Jesus say
- O God beyond all praising, Tune Thaxted
Prayers
Heavenly Father, you taught us by your Son Jesus Christ that all our possessions come from you. Help us to be faithful stewards of our time, our talents and our wealth, and to consecrate gladly to you service a due proportion of all that you have given us. Take us and make us your own; for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen
Almighty God, as we stand at the foot of the cross of your Son, help us to see and know your love for us, so that in humility, love and joy we may place at His feet all that we have and all that we are, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your people, that richly bearing the fruit of good works, they may by you be richly rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Go out into the world; enjoy what God has given you; use all you can in God's service and for the relief of need; and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen
Heavenly Father, you taught us by your Son Jesus Christ that all our possessions come from you. Help us to be faithful stewards of our time, our talents and our wealth, and to consecrate gladly to you service a due proportion of all that you have given us. Take us and make us your own; for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen
Almighty God, as we stand at the foot of the cross of your Son, help us to see and know your love for us, so that in humility, love and joy we may place at His feet all that we have and all that we are, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your people, that richly bearing the fruit of good works, they may by you be richly rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
I know what must be done. Only now am I beginning to be a disciple. May nothing of powers visible or invisible prevent me, that I may attain unto Jesus Christ. Amen Ignatius of Antioch
May God grant that we who have worshipped Him may be witnesses to Him in His world, and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen
Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that what we do for the least of our
brothers and sisters, we do also for you. Give us the will to be servants of
others as you were the servant of all; for you gave up your life and died for
us, but live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen
O Lord, you are the beginning of all my good, the wellspring of all my love and
the source of all my freedom. Let your grace work on in me, that your will may
be done through me, and that I may always rejoice in your presence; now and for
ever. Amen Mary Ward, 1585-1645
Sermons
Render tax to Caesar your life to God
Christ triumphant ever reigning,
Saviour, Master, King!
Lord of heaven, our lives sustaining,
hear us as we sing:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
Word incarnate, truth revealing,
Son of Man on earth!
power and majesty concealing
by your humble birth: Chorus
Suffering servant, scorned, ill–treated,
victim crucified!
death is through the cross defeated,
sinners justified: Chorus
Priestly king, enthroned for ever
high in heaven above!
sin and death and hell shall never
stifle hymns of love: Chorus
So, our hearts and voices raising
through the ages long,
ceaselessly upon you gazing,
this shall be our song: Chorus
Tune Christ Triumphant
Like a mighty river flowing,
like a flower in beauty growing,
far beyond all human knowing
is the perfect peace of God.
Like the hills serene and even,
like the coursing clouds of heaven,
like the heart that's been forgiven
is the perfect peace of God.
Like the summer breezes playing,
like the tall trees softly swaying,
like the lips of silent praying
is the perfect peace of God.
Like the morning sun ascended,
like the scents of evening blended,
like a friendship never ended
is the perfect peace of God.
Like the azure ocean swelling,
like the jewel all-excelling,
far beyond our human telling
is the perfect peace of God.
Tune Old Yeavering
My God, now is your table spread,
your cup with love still overflows:
so may your children here be fed
as Christ to us his goodness shows.
This holy feast, which Jesus makes
a banquet of his flesh and blood —
how glad each one who comes and takes
this sacred drink, this royal food!
His gifts that richly satisfy
are yet to some in vain displayed:
did not for them the saviour die —
may they not share the children's bread?
My God, here let your table be
a place of joy for all your guests,
and may each one salvation see
who now its sacred pledges tastes.
Tune Rockingham
Alleluia, sing to Jesus!
his the sceptre, his the throne;
Alleluia, his the triumph,
his the victory alone:
hark, the songs of peaceful Sion
thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus out of every nation
hath redeemed us by his blood.
Alleluia, not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia, he is near us,
faith believes, nor questions how:
though the cloud from sight received him,
when the forty days were o'er,
shall our hearts forget his promise,
'I am with you evermore'?
Alleluia, bread of angels,
thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia, here the sinful
flee to thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
earth's Redeemer, plead for me,
where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia, King eternal,
thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia, born of Mary,
earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne:
thou within the veil hast entered,
robed in flesh, our great High Priest;
thou on earth both Priest and Victim
in the eucharistic feast.
Tune Hyfrydol