Wednesday's SOAP - Matthew 22:15-22

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. ¹⁶ They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. ¹⁷ Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

 ¹⁸ But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Here, show me the coin used for the tax.”When they handed him a Roman coin, ²⁰ he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

 ²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

   “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

 ²² His reply amazed them, and they went away.

S(cripture) - “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

O(bservation) - The Pharisees come together to ask Jesus a "no right answer" question that could mean his life. We think we live in a politically charged world with conservatives and liberals . . . Jesus is dealing with foreign/pagan occupation and the pressure for self-rule. After all, he claims to be the Messiah and part of that job description is to restore the glory and power and throne of Israel/David. (Messiah means "anointed one" and hearkens back to the day when Samuel anointed David with oil in front of his brothers - marking David for a future job in the Jerusalem White House (which he would have to build).) We're talking a revolutionary question - a match to gasoline conflict question.

To add to the volatility, Jesus will have to answer this question in front of both Herod (foreign/pagan occupation) supporters (Herod was appointed governor by Rome) and self-rule Jews (the Pharisees wanted a pure state of Israel).

(That's a lot to set the tone, but without it, the response loses its power.)

So the "friend of my enemy is my friend" crowd (Herodians and Pharisees would never join forces except to destroy Jesus) comes and butters him up hoping to have Jesus lower his guard then asks, "Should we be paying taxes to Caesar (Rome)?"

To win friends and influence people, Jesus proceeds to call them hypocrites and asks for a Roman coin. His answer is strikingly brilliant - he asks his quizzers a question - "Who's pic is on the coin?" They answer - "Caesar's."

Jesus - "Okay give it back to Caesar then and give to God what belongs to God."

A(pplication) - The beauty of Jesus' answer is two-fold. First, his antagonists expect an "either-or" answer but Jesus gives them a "both-and" answer. It's not give to Caesar OR give to God - it's give to Caesar and give to God. Don't miss the significance of this. We live in an either-or culture - either left or right, either republican or democrat, either liberal or conservative . . . But Jesus' kingdom is both-and living in the tension of opposites in an inclusive manner that is hard for us to grasp (we've grown up with either-or). How would our political landscape change if we could think in terms of AND? Personal responsibility AND community (government/church/education) assistance.

Second, while being very practical - in the "real" world - Jesus is saying his Kingdom is also above the fray of money and taxes and politics. His answer is almost flippant. Jesus is not going to get sucked into their petty either-or arguments. Do you get sucked into political debate? (I do). It's that time of year again but Jesus would remind us, the Kingdom is bigger than the sphere of politics. Jesus Christ is Lord is both a political statement against Rome (Caesar is not our Lord) but also a statement that is so much bigger than Rome and Israel - Jesus rules the universe his Father created. (Does he also rule your life?)

I once got reamed out on a blog because I wrote "Jesus for president" (a reference to Shane Claiborn's book). The person doing the reaming assumed that I was talking about putting a Christian in the White House - thought I was a right-wing fundamental Christian and let me have it with both barrels. Sadly, he missed the broad scope on my comment because his own mind was thinking narrowly of politics as we know them. Jesus, my Lord, is so much bigger than the White House. My misunderstood comment was a call to rise above petty politics, but produced just the opposite!

P(rayer) - Father, first remove the scales from our eyes that sees everything in either-or. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, himself said that he came to bring a sword. To grasp what he meant, means we understand how to live in this world and yet not be of it. Father, do we really think that government can save us? Politicians making promises to dig us out of a black hole of debt if elected. But you God are the liberator. This money mess only concerns You as much as it keeps us from sharing and serving and giving and making sure others are fed and clothed. Let Washington have our paper dollars while we learn to give and live out of the abundance of the Kingdom life you offer us. Teach us the Way. Amen.