The scribes, priests, Pharisees, and Herodians (King Herod’s supporters) were all looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. The problem was that Jesus was so popular with the people. If these religious leaders had him arrested or killed, the people would turn against them. They didn’t want to lose the people’s trust.
People-pleasing can cause us to do outlandish things.
We become servants to what we elevate in our hearts.
When we hold popularity, acceptance, honor, and respect with people over God’s view of us, we end up serving people over God’s rule in our lives.
For the religious leaders, the people’s attention and trust gave them power. And in return, the leaders gave them legal burdens. They ruled by intimidation and stirring up fear of hell.
We’re not a leader if we rule by fear and intimidation. Fear and intimidation feed our own ego, not God’s kingdom. This is what the Bible calls a “false” leader. All false leaders are hypocrites. They live one way and demand followers to live a standard they themselves cannot adhere to. They are masters of disguise.
Looking For A Scapegoat
On top of losing popularity with the people, killing Jesus would fulfill His prophesy that the leaders were scheming to murder the Messiah. So the leaders needed someone else to arrest Jesus. Rome. No one liked Roman officials, but if these religious leaders could use Rome to arrest Jesus, then the people wouldn’t turn on them.
Verse 20 The leaders create a scheme to catch Jesus saying something unlawful about Rome. If they could do this, it would get Jesus arrested. Rome, like most authorities, was hyper-sensitive about anyone going against their government.
If the leaders get Jesus arrested by the Romans, it would prove that He was not the Messiah. How? Because the people expected their prophesied Messiah to have power over Rome. But if arrested, then in the people’s minds, it proves Jesus doesn’t hold the Messiah’s power.
It was Passover Week, so the Roman Governor, Pilate, was in Jerusalem. His presence in town helped keep the peace among the people. He was also there to deal with any rebels in the crowd. The religious leaders decide they need to catch Jesus in a rebellious statement that would catch the governor’s attention.
The Plan Takes Place
Verse 21 The religious leaders send their followers as spies, pretending to want to know the truth. And the spies play it up by calling Jesus “Teacher.” They are trying to blend in with the crowd so they use the same name everyone else is calling Jesus. And they probably wanted to stroke his ego, laying it on thick that they are innocent and sincere in their quest to know God’s truth.
In the original Greek language, the word “Teacher” means one who wouldn’t adjust their message by the response they’re getting or who they’re talking to. They don’t waver from the truth because of human opinions or consequences, and they do not use ambiguous language to conceal the truth, leaving doubt or misleading people.
The Word of God is our steadfast teacher in life.
Verse 22 After these spies have really built up Jesus’ ego, they ask this question against Rome (Old Testament prophets said the Messiah would be very anti-Rome). These spies ask according to God’s law, is it right to pay taxes to Rome? Rome forced the people to pay land tax, importing goods tax, income tax, census tax, etc.
The people would say no way is it lawful to pay taxes to godless Rome on their God-given property and income. It should all belong to God, not this idolatrous, oppressive, pagan-worshipping, man-made power on earth. They saw these taxes to Rome as treason against God, the One True King of Israel.
The spies are pretty sure Jesus is going to give the popular point of view here.
Verse 23 But Jesus is fully God in the flesh and he sees their wicked motives in asking this question. John 2:25 says, “He knew what was in the heart of man.”
Verse 24 A denarius is a silver or gold Roman coin, which is worth about a day’s wages. People didn’t really carry those around in their pockets. Do you carry a day’s wages in cash around? Probably not. The Jews carried copper coins that were worth less than the Roman coin.
Jesus says, “show me a denarius.”
Everyone knows the emperor’s face on this coin. Augustus Caesar had coins minted in 17 B.C. identifying himself as the son of God, which made those coins particularly repulsive to the Jews. Tiberius Caesar had coins denoting himself as the high priest of God. The Jews thought these could be like little idols. They found them repulsive. This is another reason they didn’t carry them around.
Verse 25 Jesus’ answer goes beyond a simple, ‘yes, pay your taxes.’ God put Israel under Rome’s rule. He allowed Caesar to be their earthly king. They must support him because God ordains all leadership and governments. What they decide to do with their leadership as far as submission to God is between them and the Almighty.
First Peter says, “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.” 1 Peter 2:17 NLT
Romans 13 says, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.” Romans 13:1-2, 4, 6 NLT
This means authorities like the police, Congress, the President, etc. Under God’s providence, we owe respect and obedience to what these officials require. Jesus affirms the role of government and their right to collect taxes because without these authorities, we would have anarchy, chaos, and destruction. God set up laws to protect us. If we don’t pay taxes, we wouldn’t have simple luxuries like maintained roads, traffic lights, policing of criminals, or even garbage collection.
Obedience to authorities God has set up in our lives is obedience to our Creator.
When we obey authorities, we are obeying God.
Jesus says, “And to God the things that are God’s.” What do we give to God? Our hearts. He deserves our worship, praise, obedience, time, and trust. We should dedicate our lives to Him.
The coins belong to Caesar. They bear His image. The people’s hearts belong to God. God made them in His image.
Verse 26 Sadly for the spies, they failed to catch Jesus saying anything anti-government. Frustrated and amazed, the spies just remain silent. They don’t question the surrender of their own hearts or apply what Jesus said to their lives.
Where do we stand with Jesus today? Are we looking to catch Jesus in a lie to prove we can’t trust Him? Are we trying to prove to our doubts that He cannot save us from all that burdens our hearts and plagues our minds?
Prayer
Jesus, you are the authority in my life. I trust you with my life, my family, my future, and all that comes under my hands and over my head. I trust the authorities you’ve placed in my life. Thank you for having my best in mind when you placed them over me. Help my stubborn heart submit to every authority in my life, knowing I’m submitting to your will for my life. Help me not waver from your Truth in my life. I pray that no opinion or fear of consequences will sway my actions or words from Your Word. May my words align with every word You said, Jesus. May my thoughts and words come under your authority, Jesus. When the world says there is no hope, my trust and confidence come from you, Lord. You cannot fail. I will not find you unfaithful. That is my Truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.