Thoughts for the Day

Then they sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.’ And they brought one. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

John Trapp the 17th century teacher and theologian once said of this story found above in Mark's Gospel, "Here is a fair glove drawn upon a foul hand." The Pharisees and the Herodians, bitter enemies, have come together in the face of the bigger enemy as they see it, of Jesus. Their smiling flattery hides their intention to destroy Jesus, and to ensure that the Roman oppressors do the task for them. The Jews were forced to pay taxes direct to the Emperor: ground tax (10% of grain and 20% of wine and fruit), income tax (1% of income) and poll tax (1 denarius a year for men and women). This was on top of Temple tax which their faith demanded. Paying tax to the Romans overlords was hated, and his enemies thought they had caught Jesus, for whatever he answered he would upset someone.

But Jesus is aware of his opponents self-satisfying, smug, hypocrisy and taking the coin pronounces that they should pay their dues to this world and to God. In other words we are both citizens of this world and also of God's Kingdom. We may not be asked such a question about tax, but we are called to make choices about those who govern us, and we too must judge a 'fair glove drawn upon a foul hand.' Next time you listen to a national or local politician on social media or tv (or listen to opposing views on the Russia/Ukraine war, or President Biden versus Donald Trump) try to decide whether one or both are being hypocritical. Are they, like the Herodians and the Pharisees, out to wreck their opponent, or do their arguments have some merit, and could they help people? We should never forget that for Jesus what mattered was the poorest in society, and people's relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You recognised the hypocrisy of Your enemies,
and that their pleasant words,
hid an evil intention.
May we acknowledge our own hypocrisy
and learn to look beneath the surface words
of others to see their real intention.
Amen.