To Pay Or Not To Pay

Scripture Reflection for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 16, 2011)

Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21

"Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God " (Matt 22:21)

The Pharisees and Herodians in today's Gospel who pose the question to Jesus about paying tax to Caesar are not seeking guidance in making a difficult moral decision. They are trying to trap Jesus into a no-win situation with a sticky question that has no easy solution. Since the Roman occupation of Palestine in 63 B.C.E., Jews were obliged to a "census tax," or head tax on each man, woman, and slave. The amount was one denarius (one day's pay) per year, and was to be paid with Roman coins, which in Jesus' day bore the image of the emperor Tiberius, who reigned from 14-37 C.E.

The attitudes of Jesus' fellow Jews toward the Romans as well as their strategies for resistance to the occupiers varied. Some resigned themselves to do what was necessary in order to live peaceably, and dutifully paid their taxes, even while harboring resentment. Some paid the tax because they regarded the Romans as representing God's authority (see Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:13-17). Some, like the Herodians, derived their power from the Romans, and would have openly advocated paying tribute to Rome. Others were pushed to desperate straits by the exorbitant taxes levied on them and feared losing their land, or even falling so far into debt that they would be sold into slavery (see Matt 18:23-35). Some would have said that they should pay nothing to Caesar because everything belongs to God (Lev 25:23). Some would have opposed any collusion with Rome. There were those who harbored strong nationalist sentiments and fomented armed revolt against the occupying powers. Josephus tells of several first-century revolutionary leaders, including Judas the Galilean (Acts 5:37), who led unsuccessful tax revolts.

In asking Jesus to take a stand on this thorny question, the Pharisees hope to discredit him. If he supports paying the tax, then he would be seen as cooperating with the enemy, and his credibility as a prophet who preaches God's ways as opposed to Caesar's imperial ways is compromised. If he replies that the tax ought not be paid, then he places himself at risk vis-à-vis the Romans. Jesus finds a clever way through these two opposite choices: one should give the coins back to Caesar, since they belong to him. He then turns the focus toward "what belongs to God," which for believers, is everything. Thus, Jesus relativizes the authority of the emperor, by emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty over all. This clever answer leaves Jesus' opponents astounded. They have no come-back and they depart to await another opportunity to ensnare him.

In the Gospel, Jesus' interlocutors are not asking a sincere question; they are intent on undoing him. Nonetheless, the text be an aid for contemporary Christians who genuinely seek to discern how they will relate to a government that takes actions or enacts laws that they oppose on moral grounds. For example, should one withhold paying taxes, such as some Christians, like Raymond Hunthausen, Archbishop of Seattle (1975-1991), have done to express their opposition to stockpiling of nuclear weapons? Should one refuse to pay federal income tax as a way to protest war, as Dorothy Day? Or should one pay taxes, but diligently lobby, vote, and participate in nonviolent protests as the way to communicate an oppositional stance? Jesus' single-mindedness about the reign of God and his cleverness in turning a verbal duel into an invitation to become more deeply centered on the Holy One can help us discern our responses in our day.

PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE

• What "things of Caesar" are presently at odds with "the things of God"?
• Ask the Spirit to help you become ever more centered on "the things of God."
• Ask Jesus to help you discern your response to governmental policies or laws that are at odds with the gospel.

This reflection was originally publised at www.ctu.edu
Image: Christ and the Tribute Money - from a fresco by Masaccio in Florence (1401-c.1429). (C) www.BiblePictureGallery.com