Luke 20:19-26 Paying tribute to
Caesar. (Mark 12:13-17) Note that in Luke 23:2 they falsely accused Jesus of
telling people not to pay taxes, even though in this passage He clearly says to
pay Caesar his due. We cannot pay worldly governments in the coin of God's
kingdom, but we should give them their own specie. This is re-iterated by Paul
in Romans 13:1-7 and Peter in I Peter 2:13.
It
might be possible to interpret this passage as saying that Jesus is teaching a
fundamental dualism. We live in the world and do what the world requires, and
in God's kingdom we do as God tells us. And unfortunately this is often the way
we live, without thinking about it in these terms. Our religious life is
completely separated from our life in the world. It seems unlikely that this
was Jesus' message. More likely, He was saying, as do Paul and Peter later that
governments do serve a purpose in God's economy
that needs to be supported by legitimate taxes. We don't need to have a
Christian army or a Christian police force, but we need these things from time
to time and God has ordained that governments provide them. But this does not
extend beyond this point. At times, it may be necessary to disobey governments
when they cross the line and attempt to prevent God's purposes (Acts 5:29). And
our life in this world should still conform to the standard of living in the
power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, when Peter was asked if Jesus paid the
temple tax, Jesus had Peter procure it in what certainly seems supernatural
provision. (Matt 17:24-27).
Perhaps
the question was asked because the Jewish people felt that the Roman army was
an occupying force, and that a deliverer like Judas Maccabeus would arise to
free them. If it was not God's plan for the Roman Empire to dominate the Jewish
nation, it would be wrong to support that occupation by paying taxes. But as
Jesus made clear, His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).
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