"Tricky Words, Tricky Questions”

In Jesus Holy Name October 18, 2020

Text: Matthew 21:45,46a, 22:15 Redeemer

“Tricky Words, Tricky Questions”

Benjamin Franklin has often been quoted as saying, "In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes." Many have figured out ways to get out of paying taxes, legal or otherwise, but no one has yet been able to avoid the certainty of death. We pay a lot of taxes in California. Over 60,000 Californians moved out of the state between 2017 and 2018, resulting in a net loss of $8 billion in adjusted gross income. They moved to states with lower tax rates. On our ballot this year you will be voting on various tax issues. We are expected to read the fine print.

My son who works in the California State Capital noted that one of the bills that came forward this year to be voted on was supported by 12 Assembly members and 2 Senators. It is called the “California Wealth and Exit Tax”. In other words, if signed by the governor, even if you wanted to leave the state this bill would impose an annual tax on a taxpayer’s worldwide wealth for 10 years. The wealth tax proposal includes an exit tax to ensure that no one escapes the loving embrace of the California Franchise Tax Board.

Taxes can be frustrating. The debates between Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees are taking place in the temple. In their frustration with Jesus they tried to trap Him with tax issues. They are becoming more and more frustrated. They were angry at Jesus. They know His recent parables are about them. But they were afraid of the people. He was a threat to their leadership. They are the spiritual leaders of the nation. Men entrusted with the dispensing of goodness and mercy. They are the religious professors, scholars and bible teachers of the community. Role models for the children. Jesus called them out as fakes, liars and white washed tombs.

It is Holy Week. Matthew records another encounter with the religious rulers. It takes place after Jesus had entered the Temple. He has thrown out the money changers who were there. The Sadducees were in charge of the Temple which made them a great deal of money. They had a vested interest in keeping the racket going. The Sadducees and the Herodians didn’t always agree with the Pharisees but they all knew Jesus was a threat. The Sadducees and the Herodians both loved Greek and Roman culture. They liked the theaters and the sports, the gymnasiums. The Herodians supported Herod, the puppet king under Rome. They had a vested interest in the political status quo. If Jesus denied that it was right to pay taxes to Rome then they could accuse Jesus of an act of political rebellion.

All three groups got together and plotted how they would trap Jesus. They used tricky words and tricky questions, about money, about marriage and one by a lawyer about the greatest commandment.

Jesus had just completed telling three parables that were a warning to the Pharisees about their way of life and behavior all in the name of God. They thought they already knew everything. They were the religious snobs of the day who thought they were God’s chosen people and the only ones that he loved. This whole plot was to “trap” Jesus into saying anything that could be used to justify his removal from existence. The motive was clear. They need Jesus dead.

What did the High Priest say after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead?

“If we let this Jesus go on like this then the Romans will come and take away our way of life. In other words we will lose the income we receive from the temple. We will lose our social standing and out authority.

Jesus is approached with all kinds of flattery and then they spring they trap. The first question is about paying taxes. This was a no-win situation for Jesus. If He said that they should pay the taxes to the Roman overlords, then He would alienate the majority of the Jews who considered it a sin to pay money to the pagan Roman Empire. But if He said no, don’t pay your taxes, then He would be guilty of insurrection again the Romans. Either way Jesus would lose the argument, or so they thought.

Money is simply a neutral medium of exchange, neither good nor bad. But money is never morally neutral; it always reflects someone’s values in the way it is used. The image on the denarius, the only small silver coin acceptable for imperial tax payments, was probably that of Tiberius Caesar (reigned A.D. 14-37). The inscription upon the coin read ‘Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus’ with the reverse side reading ‘Chief Priest.’ This inscription was a claim to divinity and as emperor, the right to be worshiped.