What's this? It's a trap. When I was a boy I wanted to catch a
bird. So I got a wooden fruit case, a stick, a string and a handful
of wheat for the birds. I set it all up like this then hid in
a bush, waiting for a bird to come for the seed. I held the string
in my hand, all ready to pull out the stick if a bird went in
under the box.
Do you ever set a mouse trap? Why do you do that? You want to get rid of a mouse. Someone has even invented a disposable trap to make it easier to get rid of the dead beast without having to touch it.
Once we decided to trap a mouse so we could keep it and observe it for a while - we wanted to catch a mouse live. Our mouse house had an aluminium grille wall and a glass roof. We caught our mouse. Then we fed and studied it in captivity for a couple of weeks - until it managed to chew its way out!
So we can set a trap to eliminate a creature altogether, or to get it where we want it - to have it under our control.
A Trap for Jesus
Today's reading begins "Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words" (22.15).
What was their purpose? What were they hoping to achieve? They wanted Jesus out of the way. To this end they were trying to get Jesus to say or do something that would get him where they wanted him, that would put him under their control.
What was their motive? Reflect on the recent events. Jesus had entered Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday - riding on a donkey in deliberate fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. It wasn't the expected Messianic announcement, but the common people understood well enough and welcomed Jesus as "the Son of David" (21.9). That this should have happened without the investigation and approval of the Jewish leaders was bad enough. But Jesus went further. He went straight into the Temple "and drove out all who were buying and selling there", saying that the Father's house of prayer had been made "a den of thieves" (21.12-13). All this trade was going on with the leaders' approval - and they no doubt received their commission!
They discussed the matter overnight and confronted Jesus the next day - "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" (21.23) Jesus threw a question back to them, "John's baptism - where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" Jesus caught them at their own game and they wouldn't answer.
Then Jesus told them three parables. First, the two sons who were asked to work in the vineyard. The one who said he wouldn't go changed his mind and went. That's like the tax collectors and prostitutes who repented under John's preaching - but you didn't!
Second, the tenants in the vineyard who refused to give the owner his share of the harvest and finally killed the owner's son in a bid to seize the vineyard for themselves. The chief priests and Pharisees knew the parables were about them - they wanted to arrest him, but couldn't for fear of the crowds.
Third, Jesus told about the wedding feast. The invitation was ignored or rejected by those first invited, so that others from the streets were gathered into the feast. This was against the Jewish leaders too.
Should We Pay Tax to Rome?
There were some curious alliances in this attempt to "get" Jesus. First we see Pharisees and members of Herod's party (Herodians) come to trap him.
They begin with flattery - you always tell the truth, even if it might be unpopular. Then the trap question, "What is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" (22.17) A curious alliance, because these supporters of Herod would have supported the tax, whereas the Pharisees hated it.
There was a genuine question here - behind a very evil motive! The genuine question arose because the Emperor claimed divinity and demanded worship. The Jewish Law specifically forbade worshiping other gods. The Jewish religion was considered a religio licita - a legally recognised religion. They were exempted from the necessity of worshiping the Emperor, but were, of course, still expected to pay tax.
The motive behind the question was to trap Jesus whichever way he answered. If he agrees with the tax he will begin to lose popularity. If he disagrees with it, it will be a matter for the Roman authorities.
The answer of Jesus was brilliant in its simplicity. Their coins bore the face and name of the Emperor - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (v. 21).
Stewardship
That answer is still so relevant for us. We do have responsibilities to the secular state. Paul wrote to the Romans, that we must obey the state authorities because they are there by the purpose of God to provide good order in society. You must obey them, he says, as a matter of conscience: "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour" (Rom. 13.1-7).
Do you use the roads and the footpaths? Then pay your taxes. Do you live in a fairly safe society? Then pay your taxes… There are all kinds of good reasons why, as part of society, sharing the benefits of what the government does, we should play our part in the cost of the community. And let's remember that, when Paul wrote that, a particularly nasty man called Nero was the Roman emperor, and that the Christians in Rome had no say, no vote in who was governing them. In time Nero would have Paul put to death.
But, above everyone else, we are responsible to God. This is God's world. We are God's people, bought with the precious blood of Jesus the Son of God himself. Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body (all that you are and have)" (1 Cor. 6.19b-20).
"Give to God what is God's," Jesus said.
In reflecting on our stewardship over the past month, we have been challenged to consider again what it means for us to "give God what is God's."
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. In the third chapter, the Lord calls on his people to turn back to him and to stop cheating him of his tithes and offerings. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it… Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty (Mal. 3.10,12).
Do we dare to trust God like that? Are we open to receive a blessing like that?
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