Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21 They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
“Jesus' Wisdom Overcomes Conspiracies”
Passing from parables to real events, St. Matthew tells us how two political opponents devise a conspiracy to trap Jesus. With a word to incite either the people or the authorities against Him, they think He will be caught between both.
The Pharisees are against the Roman occupation. They look for Israel's political liberation, which will be achieved with the coming of the Messiah. The Herodians may be compared with the intelligence services working for the Roman authority.
Taxes are a burning issue that Pharisees are against but forced to pay, while the Herodians justify it as a duty to keep up the Temple. Both parties are against Jesus, but their aims can never match. In order to get rid of Jesus, they combine a common plot against Him.
Their approach looks very respectful, praising Him as “sincere and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality” (v. 16). Then, disguised as learners, they launch their trap using a tax issue. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?” (v. 17).
Collecting taxes from the population is an essential element of the empire's income to cover civil and military needs. It is a compulsory duty that should never be disobeyed. Those who tried to refuse paying taxes during the first Jewish revolution of 66-67 AD were punished by the Roman authority. They destroyed their towns and their inhabitants, as was done in Gamla and Arbel.
A dilemma that Jesus has to face is to displease the Jewish multitude who object to paying taxes to the Roman occupation, or to preach disobedience to the Roman authority.
Their wickedness and malice are not hidden from Him.
Facing their hatred that is covered by deceit, He explores the depth of their hearts and thoughts. He asks them to show Him a denarius. "Whose head is this, and whose title?" The coin has Caesar's effigy and, on the backside is his title Son of God in Latin. “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's and to God the things that are God's” (v. 21).
The Herodians are silenced and so are the Pharisees, but with a special hint to the latter that there is no God, but God. Deal with Caesar as the civil authority and abide by God's commandments without wickedness or deceit. This is also a lesson for us today. Give to God what is God's. Amen.