What did Jesus imply when he mentioned, “Render to Caesar what’s Caesar’s and to God the issues which can be God’s” (cf. Matt 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26)? Was he endorsing government authority, drawing a line between politics and religion, or making a extra subversive assertion?
On this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller sits down with Michael Chicken to unpack this advanced passage. They discover its historic and political context, the other ways it has been interpreted, and what it means for Christians immediately.
Does Jesus affirm paying taxes as a matter of obedience, or is he subtly difficult the system? What does this passage train about our allegiance to God versus our obligations to the state? Be a part of us as we discover certainly one of Jesus’s most well-known—and debated—statements.
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Episode visitor: Michael F. Chicken
Mike Bird is deputy principal at Ridley School in Melbourne, Australia. He’s an Anglican priest and the writer of over 30 books in regards to the New Testomony and theology. He makes a speciality of a staggering breadth of disciplines, together with systematic theology, New Testomony research, early Christianity, public theology (similar to politics and non secular freedom), and extra.
Episode synopsis
Context of the passage
Kirk E. Miller and Michael Chicken set the scene for the passage, which takes place throughout certainly one of Jesus’s confrontations with the Jewish spiritual leaders in Jerusalem. They clarify the importance of Jesus’s triumphal entry, cleaning of the temple, and subsequent confrontations.
What’s at stake?
The Pharisees try to entice Jesus with a query about paying taxes to Caesar. Mike explains the historic and political context of taxation in Roman Judea and its implications for Jewish loyalty to YHWH. Endorsing the empire’s taxation could possibly be perceived as participating in its idolatry. However refusing taxation could possibly be deemed riot.
Alternate interpretations
Kirk and Mike point out numerous conventional and modern interpretations.
- Some see on this passage the idea for a two kingdoms theology, the thought of separate spheres of authority for church (“render to God”) and state (“render to Caesar”).
- Some from the Anabaptist custom argue that though believers are technically free from the state’s calls for since they belong to Christ’s kingdom, of their freedom they will select to conform and undergo the state to keep away from offense.
- Lastly, others interpret the Caesar’s (or the state’s) sphere of authority (“render to Caesar”) as subsumed with God’s (“render to God”). Thus, Jesus is stating that the whole lot is owed to God, together with sure deference to the state which he appointed to have a extra restricted area of authority.
Michael Chicken’s perspective
Fairly than understanding the textual content as making a doctrinal statement on church and state relations, Mike’s interpretation emphasizes Jesus’s intelligent evasion. Jesus avoids the entice set by his adversaries by highlighting the pagan nature of the Roman coinage and making a subversive however delicate level about allegiance to God over Caesar. As such, Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of his questioners, leaving his viewers amazed.
Sensible significance
Mike offers sensible takeaways. Christians ought to pay taxes and obey the state, however by no means take part in idolatry or tyranny. Our final loyalty belongs to God. We observe God’s authority initially, at the same time as we acknowledge the subordinate position of the state.
Instructing the passage
So far as instructing this passage, Mike suggests taking time to elucidate its historic context. One may even present photographs of Roman cash as an instance the purpose.
Lastly, examine passages like Romans 13 and Revelation 13 to offer a fuller understanding of the state as each minister and monster.
Logos values considerate and fascinating discussions on necessary biblical subjects. Nonetheless, the views and interpretations offered on this episode are these of the people talking and don’t essentially replicate the official place of Logos. We acknowledge that Christians could maintain totally different views on this passage, and we welcome various engagement and respectful dialogue.
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