Proper 24: Gospel, Matthew 22:15-22                                  

Matthew 22:15-22

This is a troublesome passage. I know. I feel it. I’m in it. Jesus has shared a couple of his most powerful and poignant parables and now real world life comes rushing back in. Jesus is confronted by two groups that opposed him every step of the way, from beginning to end in his earthly ministry. The Pharisees were experts in God’s Law and if any group could find a way to trick this rebel would-be Messiah, they could. And to make matters a bit more tricky, the followers of the pagan King Herod tagged along. They were ready to pounce, I’m sure. They hadn’t heard the happy ending they desired in Jesus’ stories, so what better way to pin him to the mat, but in catching him in the real world. Their world.

As an aside, isn’t it interesting how a common enemy can make companions of those who usually don’t like one another. We see it later when Jesus goes on trial and both Pilate and Herod enter the “Buddy Club” in opposing the Nazarene. Onward.

The pharisees come and prime the pump by heaping accolades on Jesus. He’s having none of it and exposes them immediately as the hypocrites they are. And this is where the account becomes painful. I am a hypocrite, too. I say and do things that make connection with the Lord Jesus all the time and then just as quickly turn against him in “thought, word and deed.”

Their pretended discussion regards the paying of taxes to a secular authority. Jesus, on the other hand, wants their hearts, full and unhindered. So their question actually works to set the trap on themselves. “Shew me the tribute money” (I love these exchanges in the venerable KJV). And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, “Whose is this image and superscription?” They say unto him, Caesar’s.” Then saith he unto them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s (Matt. 22:19-21).

You can almost hear them gulping. Hard. “They marvelled, and left him.” His hypocritical enemies marvelled and left him. The conclusion is clear. There really isn’t anything that isn’t God’s from the top of life to the bottom. But even more apparent is who it is that has clarity on the issue. And it’s Jesus. Listen closely to him here and everywhere else he speaks. Prepare to marvel. But don’t you dare leave.