Affiliations

Malice and evil acts never triumph!

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”-Matthew22:15-21

Jesus is truly full of wisdom. His knowledge and answers never fail to silence anybody especially His critics. As I reflected on the Gospel, I cannot help but be struck by a few points. 1) If Jesus is alive now, some people will think that His answer is similar to playing safe. That is, it seems He does not want to please any group and it seems He does not want to side or affiliate with any group. 2) Some will think that His answer does not make a firm stand on important issues. That is, it seems He is neutral at such a difficult time. 3) The Herodians and Pharisees represent the two "evils."

Jesus probes the mind and searches the heart. He knew why the Herodians and the Pharisees were before Him. The Herodians don't really like Jesus. The Pharisees never liked Jesus to such an extent that they were plotting to kill Him already. But why were they there? Definitely not to know Jesus' political affiliation. Definitely not to invite Jesus to join their group. But with malice in their hearts and wickedness in their hearts, they secretly trap Jesus. Either way, Jesus' answer will definitely be a death sentence for Him.

1) Was Jesus playing safe? No, but He gave more than an answer. He gave a thought-provoking answer that silenced everybody. “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Whether they admit it or not, they know the will of God in their hearts. They know if paying taxes to Caesar was right or wrong. "The first answer is usually the right one." Though we are confused with so many voices around us, sometimes the first answer we thought of is the right one to so many issues these days. Though we cannot defend our answer, but in the very depths of our hearts, there lies the truth in all simplicity. Also, Jesus is inviting us to be careful with the affiliations we make with a group or cause. Because not all groups cater to good.

2) Did Jesus make a firm stand on an important political issue? Yes, but His answer was and still is thought-provoking. “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” A reflective Herodian and Pharisee would have thought, "What 'things' truly belong to Caesar considering that he is only a man, and a mere nothing before God?" Sometimes, we need to make a firm stand on certain issues. But sometimes we need not to especially if we are unsure, or if it is deceiving us secretly. Jesus is inviting us to be more reflective since the world we have is not that transparent anymore.

3) The two "evils." They said, "Choose between two evils." and "Choose the lesser evil." But Jesus is different. He did not choose between two evils, nor the lesser evil. What is evil is evil. What is good is good. Jesus is teaching us that we need not choose between two evils, nor the lesser evil. Jesus is encouraging us to follow the path of goodness, the path of light, the path of love, the path of God. To love God and to love our neighbor are the reasons why we are created. Why do we make our existence complicated?

Image courtesy: Tribute to Caesar, Manfredi, Bartolomeo; unknown artists