I’ve only known a few people in my life who enjoy paying taxes. For most, it’s a hard endeavor; not only because it may be painful to give up money, but that it seems unjustified. Typically, people like to give from their heart, especially if it’s an honorable project. In this week’s study, we see people giving from their heart in big ways to build a temple for Yahweh!
So, here’s the question for this week: How did the free will offerings from the days of Moses move to compulsion edicts in the day of the Pharisee? And why does Yeshua seem to line up with tax collectors rather than instructing his followers to fight back.
When it was a temple tax, Yeshua told his disciples to cast a hook to catch a fish for a bit of coin. And when asked about tax money for Ceasar, he told his disciples to give it. There are modern day dogmatists who are convinced we shouldn’t pay taxes at all. But yet, Yeshua supported giving a tax. Why?
24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. 27 However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.” (Matt. 17:24-27)
In looking at this action by Yeshua and Peter what do you see? First of all, who would catch a fish and expect money to be in its mouth? Evidently, Yeshua is making the point that the Father will provide. And secondly, the Father not only provides but doubles His blessing in order to take care of us. For instance, the stater that was found in the fish equals 4 drachma, not just two.
We must also consider the spoken point made by Yeshua to Peter. That is, “kings of the earth collect customs from strangers and not their sons.” This dramatic statement draws us back to our Torah section where Moses asks the sons of Israel to give from their heart as a contribution. This supersedes any edict, in that when people share voluntarily they become united in effort. The sons of Yahweh are not required to pay a temple tax, but are instead given a free choice. Yeshua in turn demonstrates the concept of giving freely from the mouth of a fish.
In Matthew 22, Yeshua commands to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”. In this context, Yashua had just returned to Jerusalem for the final time having recently finished sharing several parables with the crowd. The enemies of Yeshua (the Herodians and the Pharisees) saw an opportunity to put Yeshua on the spot in front of His followers. In verse 17, they say to Yeshua, “Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (ESV). It was a trick question, and they knew it. If Jesus answered, “No,” the Herodians would charge Him with treason against Rome. If He said, “Yes,” the Pharisees would accuse Him of disloyalty to the Jewish nation, and He would lose the support of the crowds.
Yeshua’s response is nothing short of brilliant:
“But Yeshua, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius” (Matt. 22:18-19)
The denarius was a coin used as the tax money at the time. It was made of silver and featured an image of the emperor with an inscription calling him “divine.” The Jews considered such images idolatry, forbidden by the second commandment. This was another reason why, if Yeshua answered, “Yes,” He would be in trouble. His acceptance of the tax as “lawful” could have been seen as a rejection of the second commandment, thus casting doubt on His claim to be the Son of God.
With the coin displayed in front of them, Yeshua said, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” The Herodians and Pharisees, stating the obvious, said, “Caesar’s.” Then Yeshua brought an end to their foolish tricks:
“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”
When Yeshua said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” He was drawing a sharp distinction between two kingdoms. There is a kingdom of this world, and Caesar holds power over it. But there is another kingdom, not of this world, for which Yeshua is King.
Yahweh has “minted” the human soul, and He has stamped His image on everyone. (Gen. 1:27) So, give Caesar his due—the temporary stuff of this world—but make sure to give God His due:
“Offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” (Rom. 6:13)
What can we learn from all this?
1. Our earthly money is not that important. It seems that Yahweh cares more about how we portray ourselves to the world. Are we an agitator fighting a worldly system or are we concerned more about Kingdom work and doing the will of our Father?
2. When we align ourselves with the world as demonstrated by the Pharisees, we stop portraying the gospel as a free gift. I believe this is why Yeshua overturns the tables in the temple and says, “Do not make my Father’s house into a den of thieves.” (Jn.2:13-16)
3. When we proclaim to be a Son of Elohim, we have the privilege to partake in building a sanctuary from which the Son resides so that we too have access to the Father. (Jn 14:6) This should be a contribution out of our thankfulness in being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
May you be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn