Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Dealing with loaded questions.

By mmayer

Matthew 22:15-22

¹⁵Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶They 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. ¹⁷Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the poll-tax^[a] to Caesar or not?’

¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, ²⁰and 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.’

²²When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

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Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (Matthew 22: 17).

That was certainly a loaded question asked of Jesus. If he said ‘Yes,’ he lost popular support. If he said ‘No,’ the Jewish authorities would quickly denounce him to the Romans. They didn’t want an actual answer – they just wanted to stop Jesus.

In situations of domestic abuse, coercive control, or misuse of power, questions are used to befuddle, make people doubt themselves, and leave them confused or powerless. In synod debates, sometimes questions are really implying that the other side is not staying true to God and is not following his will. Learn to be aware of loaded questions.

I find it a great comfort, when I get caught up as the target of a loaded question, or when I find myself in a position of internal moral conflict, that I can trust Jesus to hold me and guide me. Sometimes it takes time, or support from others, but the Holy Spirit gets me to a healthier place in the end.

Jesus was able to go deeper. He didn’t get panicked by the tricky situation he found himself in. Because of his regular daily prayer practice, he was able to respond from the deep place of the Father’s love and support for him.

‘Show me the money for the tax.’ Of course, the coin showed Caesar. ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and God what is God’s.’ That wise reply shut them up, but didn’t stop them continuing to work against him.

When we get caught in tricky situations, Luther’s simple guiding rule was, ‘How do I show love for my neighbour?’ I hope that can be a helpful guide for you.