WHOSE IMAGE IS ON YOU?
Luke 20:20-26
Introduction: As the ominous Tax Day approaches, the ethics of paying taxes seems like a timely topic. What should Christians think about paying taxes? Should we pay taxes if our government is doing things with the money, we find morally objectionable? These are some questions to consider. Some say pay as little tax as possible, others say rich people need to pay more taxes yet some others would try to evade the system and pay no taxes at all.
Nicky Gumbel, tells us of a man who sent a check to the government for back taxes with a note attached that said: “I felt so guilty for cheating on my taxes I had to send you this check. If I don’t feel any better, I’ll send you the rest.” With these varied views on taxes who is right on this matter? What does the scripture say about Christians paying taxes?
The main theme of our passage is not on taxes however, I would like to briefly talk about what should be the attitude of Christians when it comes to paying taxes. When did the taxing of people begin? Thankfully the Scripture is not silent on this matter, and it provides us clear answers to the ethical questions about paying taxes. The origin of taxes: Remember there was a time the nation of Israel was led by God. Judges and Prophets were executing God’s instructions.
For some reason, the Israelites were not satisfied having God their ultimate King and ruler. They wanted an earthly king who would go before them in pomp and royalty, who would fight their battles just like the rest of the nations around them. So they came to prophet Samuel and asks him to appoint a king to lead them. That request displeased Samuel so much so he goes and enquires God. God said to Samuel to listen to their request but also warn them about the consequences of having a king. I Samuel 8: 10-19, “This is the way the kind of king you’re talking about operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry, regimented in battalions and squadrons. He’ll put some to forced labor on his farms…
He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.”
Most helpful when it comes to paying taxes is the account of Jesus paying taxes. On one occasion Jesus and his disciples were at Capernaum, “the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?” Peter said, “Of course.” But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?” He answered, “His subjects.”
Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so, we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.” Matt 17:24-27
This was not a Roman tax, but a Jewish tax for the upkeep of the temple.
The apostle Paul was clear in writing to the Romans, that the collection of taxes by a government is legitimate and the payment of taxes by Christians is imperative. “That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.” Romans 13:6-7 (The Message). Much can be said about paying taxes, but you get the point.
If Jesus, being the son of God paid taxes, not only for himself but also for his disciples, are we exempt from paying taxes? Let’s make paying taxes our practice in so doing we honor God through our integrity. In the passage, we read Jesus’ integrity and loyalty was challenged by the teachers of the law and the chief priests who were looking for an opportunity to arrest him.
I. CAESAR VS GOD (Vs 20-26)
Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.
22 Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their trickery and said, “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.
This particular incident was mentioned in the three Gospels, (Matt 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26). Matthew 22: 9 reads, “and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” The spies came to catch Jesus saying something wrong. According to a New Testament scholar Robert Stein, by asking the question “is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? the Pharisees are putting Jesus in a dilemma.
“If he answers yes, he will lose favor with the people, for they despise the Roman taxation. If he answers no, he will be advocating rebellion against Rome and force the Roman authorities to take immediate action against him.” Jesus evades the religious leaders’ trap cleverly using the very image of Caesar that was imprinted on the Roman coins.
Tiberius Caesar was the emperor ruling from AD 14 until 37, that was during Jesus’ adolescence and adulthood. Jesus was fully aware of how Roman taxation was implemented under the reign of Caesar. Moreover, Ceaser exalted himself to god status by inscribing his name on the coins as, “ Tiberius, Son of the divine Augustus.”
The provinces under the emperor were subjected to both a poll tax and a land tax. The revenue supported the army, the imperial household, government salaries, road maintenance, and public works, as well as the dole of grain for the Roman masses.[1] The very image of Ceaser on Roman coinage caused something of a religious dilemma for the Jews.
By saying, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Jesus was acknowledging the institutional authority of Ceasar as the earthly king and ruler. He was also encouraging people to pay the Roman taxes, which would only be helpful and beneficial for them. At the same time in a very subtle way, he wanted the people, the religious leaders and including Ceaser to recognize whose image and inscription was on all of them.
This passage is not about whether we should be paying taxes or not, it is clear that we are required to pay. But the bigger point of Jesus was that people in general and we as Christians who bear the image of God ought to give themselves to God.
II WHOSE IMAGE IS ON YOU?
The image of Tiberius Caesar on the Roman coins was a constant reminder to the Roman citizens that they were subjects of Rome and they were ruled by a godlike Caesar. Similarly, the image of God upon the lives of people, even more so upon us the children of God, should constantly remind us that we are subjects of God’s Kingdom and God is our King and ruler.
I want us to explore the following scriptures that clearly highlight the fact that we belong to God. Genesis 1:26-27, Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
To nothing and to no one in this entire creation did God say, let’s make them in our image, except for man. No matter who they are and where they are from, whether we agree with their ideologies or not, all people were made in the image of God, and God loves them, therefore they deserve our love and respect. We are called to be the image bearers of God.
Unfortunately, sin and Satan marred that image, that is why man instead of behaving like God, at times acts like a monster. God did not want mankind to remain in that broken state. He wanted to restore that broken image of His, so he sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross, and through his shed blood, our sin-stained image of God can be once again restored forever.
I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body.”
I Corinthians 3: 16-17, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” These scriptures tell us that both individually and together we don’t belong to ourselves but we all belong to Him and He owns us. What an honor to know that no earthly ruler, establishment or church owns us, but the creator of the universe, calls us His own. Isaiah, 43:1-3“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” How should we then live as the image bearers of God?
Firstly, since we belong to Him, we offer ourselves, all our faculties as living sacrifices to Him, which is our true worship. Secondly, we do not copy the behaviors and the customs of this world, instead, we will let God transform us into his likeness. (Romans 12:1-2).
In other words, as image bearers of God, we Christians are to live differently than the rest of the world. We are to reflect God’s love, kindness and mercy of God as he has shown to us. Thirdly, God's word leads us to use our bodies and the gifts He has given us to achieve the will of God. The will of God is that none would perish but everyone would come to know Him. The will of God is that we live lives that are holy and pleasing to God. The will of God is that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The will of God is that we love mercy and act justly.
In closing, whose image is on you? How are you reflecting that image of God in your family, workplace, church and in the society? Is your life reflecting God, by which God is glorified or bringing shame and disgrace to His name? My prayer is that we will bear the image of God humbly and responsibly so that by seeing our lives people would turn to Him. Amen!
[1] Archeological study Bible, Roman Taxation, Page 1855
