seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 22:15 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 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.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
OK... let me set the scene as I see it. Those Pharisees were angry because Jesus tore up the vender area in the Temple. Who did He think He was? They all knew He had to go... but He was always surrounded by huge adoring crowds. They couldn't just arrest Him.... it would cause an upheaval and Rome didn't like upheaval... and Rome was in charge, not them.This was religion v. politics at its finest. The church was having a problem.... the state was not allowed to intervene... unless it was a state problem.
The Pharisees wanted to shift the problem to the state. So... they tried to get Him to say He didn't have to pay taxes. There was that tussle about the temple tax... you remember, right? The Disciples told Jesus they needed to pay the "temple tax". Jesus said it was His house and He shouldn't have to pay the priest in order to attend His own temple.... but He paid the tax with coins found in a fish's mouth.
So those Pharisees decided to set a trap. They didn't believe they were trying to snag the Son of God. They didn't know Jesus could read minds! Their minds were probably screaming "look out Jesus!" So, since the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with words.... Jesus would play along. After all, Jesus could read minds, so He had the questions and the answers.
Matthew, the guy who wrote this gospel.... was a tax collector. He knew what Rome wanted. He knew what the Pharisees wanted.
I was a bookkeeper for over 25 years. Jesus had no taxable income. He never passed the hat. He didn't own anything and most of all He didn't owe anything.
Jesus didn't charge for His services. He was not a wealthy doctor, caterer, or orator.... Jesus had no interest in coins of any kind.
Jesus didn't evade taxes.... He didn't owe any.... Jesus had no income!
They tried to get Him for tax evasion!
