Render unto Caesar
First you have to be fully aware of the circumstances- Palestine under Roman Occupation. To appreciate that, you must go back not 2000yrs- just 75, not to Palestine, but to France, Belgium or Holland, and the ones to fear are not Roman but German. Their behaviour is very similar. They occupy because they need to steal- food, materiel, wealth, arms, slave labour, technology, space mineral resources- to fulfil their own needs and appetites. And while they are in the area, they will help themselves to any art treasures, valuables, precious metals and gems, in fact, any little thing they fancy- including your daughters.
Now let us go to the synagogue and join the rabbi. A group of men ask him-
“Is it right that we should pay taxes to the Romans?”
It is a very plain and simple question, which begs a very simple answer- yes or no. If it were a printed questionnaire, there would be just those two boxes to choose from. There would be no need of others. Of course, Jesus knows what is afoot. He immediately turns to the Pharisees, whom he knows have set up this trap, and calls-
“Don’t think I don’t know what you are up to!” And trap it is, because they don’t care which way he answers; either will serve their purpose. If Jesus answers ‘yes’ he is an appeaser, collaborator, traitor to Israel, friend of the ungodly, and by association- a blasphemer. If he answers ‘no’ he is a rebel, a troublemaker, agitator, rabble-rouser, dissident, insurrectionist, law-breaker, outlaw, an enemy of Rome.
So Jesus gives them his response, which is no answer at all, but another question, which is never recognised for what it is- an evasion. He declines to answer. Yes, he makes that clever little response about giving to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and so on, but the questioner is really asking is this tax money Caesar’s
And that’s the question Jesus doesn’t answer. He simply sets it aside and very subtly and cleverly gives the question back to the questioner.
Now before you start frothing at the mouth, there is another matter which we must address. Come with me, back to Holland, in the early 40’s. We are walking along by a canal, passing by some warehouses. That one belonged to Otto Frank. You remember? He and his family upped sticks and disappeared soon after the Bosch started carting off Jews to labour camps. Death camps, more like. It is unwise to say things like that too loudly. Feeling a little uncomfortable, we all just glance up at the tall, old, narrow building in silence and-
Did you see that? What? You mean- yes; that face. At the window? Yes! You saw it? It was Otto. IT was Otto Frank. I saw it, too. It was he, definitely. We could say more, but no need.
We have all seen the notices all over the city- ALL JEWS WILL REGISTER FOR REDISTRIBUTION OF LABOUR. NOT TO DO SO IS A CAPITAL OFFENCE. TO HARBOUR UNREGISTERED JEWS, OR TO FAIL TO REPORT UNREGISTERED JEWS, OR TO AID SUCH LAW-BREAKERS ARE ALSO CAPITAL OFFENCES.
Now you know what we should do. We can all see the group marching towards us. Herr Lieutenant in his smart uniform, and his armed patrol- guardians of the law- the law which says we should report the Franks, then stand by as they are hauled off to their death. That’s what the law says we should do. It is the law, you know.
Don’t worry. I know a man who can help you, but we must make one more journey on the time train, back to the synagogue to ask the young Rabbi. You tell him your problem, and- what did he say? Something about Caesar and God? Mm.
Interesting.