Sunday 22 October 2017

Psalm: Psalm 96

Background

This passage sees Jesus being tested by the authorities of theday. It is the start of a debate with the Pharisees and theSadducees as they try and trip Jesus up politically andtheologically. It is a conversation which demonstrates apolarisation in political thinking, and seeks to draw Jesus out aseither a revolutionary or a false prophet. The comparisons withcontemporary UK politics cannot be underestimated - as leaders areat once heralded as victor and victim; revolutionary and rebel.

The Imperial Tax in this dialogue was not a legal taxation, butwas a tax expected to be paid by people. Not paying the tax wasseen as a form of rebellion and punished accordingly.

If Jesus answered 'yes' to the questions then those who werefollowing Jesus as a revolutionary, and who were looking to Jesusto change the world, would be disappointed. Jesus would be provingthat he is not a true prophet.

But if he answered that Jews have no responsibility to pay taxesto Roman officials, then he would be reported as a politicalrebel.

Jesus is deliberately put into a no-win situation. Yet he doesnot offer a blunt answer, instead relying on the dexterity of thephilosophical tradition with which he had been schooled. The coinis not a holy item, it is distinct from the things of God. Give toGod what God demands, and then do not feel guilty about offering toRome what is demanded.

Some contemporary interpretations of this dialogue run the riskof creating a polarisation between Church and state, and thusinspiring the suggestion that culture is in opposition to thekingdom of God. However, this misunderstands the reality that theHoly Spirit is at workinthe world, not in some after-worldalternative. A more radical interpretation of this passage mayindeed suggest that all things are of God, so it doesn't matterwhat is offered to the officials; rather than the creation ofboundaries.

To Ponder

• The Pharisees, albeit cynically, called Jesus someone ofintegrity, truthfulness and consistency (verse 16). Whatcharacteristics of Jesus do you value the most? Why?

• If you had heard Jesus in this confrontation, what would yourresponse have been?

• Should Church and state be intertwined or separate? Why?