Jesus on Taxes

Jesus On Taxes

“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.  
They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  
Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  
Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,  
and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” 
“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” 
                                                                                         Matthew 22:15-22.
Here the Pharisees strong Jewish nationalist normally opposed to the Herodians who pro Roman enlist their aid to trap Jesus. They said,
“Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 
The trap was simple if Jesus said no the Herodians would report him to the Roman authorities and Jesus could have been arrested.
If he said yes, the Pharisees could denounce Jesus as being pro Roman and thus an enemy of the Jews.
Jesus realizing this gave a novel answer.
 “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,  
and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” 
“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 
One commentator Kenneth L Barker a commentator writing in the Zondervan NIV Study Bible copyright 2002 states,
“Denarius. The common Roman coin of that day  On one side was the portrait of Emperor Tiberius and on the other the inscription in Latin: “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus.” The coin was issued by Tiberius and was used for paying tax to him....
In distinguishing clearly between Caesar and God, Jesus also protested against the false and idolatrous claims made on the coins...”
We today as Christians need today to have that balance. To render unto our earthly governments what is theirs, taxes and such. While at the same time we must give to God what is rightfully his.
Think about it.