"Render unto Caesar" is the beginning of a phrase attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels, which reads in full, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things.
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And by law it had to be paid by means of Roman coinage. So Jesus seems to be in a bind. This seems to be the answer that the Jews and Herodians desired, because they were seeking a reason to trap Him "so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor" Luke Either way, the Pharisees and Herodians would win.
They had a way that they could discredit Jesus. Jesus didn't answer the question at first. Jesus responded immediately by calling them hypocrites. He who knows the hearts of men since He is God knew the motives behind them asking the question.
Their motives showed that they didn't want the "truth. Back to Church Sunday Discovering Truth When it Hurts.
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Most sermons on this verse deal with the first part of this verse, but what does the second part mean? He was in no way bound to answer it. He therefore asked to see the coin for taxes. And then said with withering scorn, "How can you who traffic in Caesar's coins and thus receive what to you are benefits of Caesar's rule refuse to pay taxes? Mennonite pastor John K.
Stoner spoke for those who interpret the parable as permitting or even encouraging tax resistance: As American Quaker war tax resistance developed during the 17th through 19th centuries, the resisters had to find a way to reconcile their tax resistance with the "Render unto Caesar" verse and other verses from the New Testament that encourage submission to the government.
Here are a few examples:. Others would term it stubbornness in me, or contrary to the doctrine of Christ, concerning rendering to Caesar his due. But as I endeavored to keep my mind in a state of humble quietude, I was favored to see through such groundless arguments; there being nothing on the subject of war, or favorable to it, to be found in that text. Although I have been willing to pay my money for the use of civil government, when legally called for; yet have I felt restrained by a conscientious motive, from paying towards the expense of killing men, women and children, or laying towns and countries waste.
In , Samuel Allinson circulated a letter on the subject of tax resistance, in which he insisted that what was due to Caesar was only what Caesar would not use for antichristian purposes:.
Render unto God
Our first and principle obedience is due to the Almighty, even in contradiction to man, "We ought to obey God rather than men" Acts 5: In , Joshua Maule wrote that he felt that the "Render unto Caesar" instruction was compatible with war tax resistance, as there was no reason to believe for certain that the tax referred to in that episode had any connection to war:.
The distinction, however, is sufficiently clear: We know that all the precepts and commands of Christ which can be applied in reference to this subject are of one tendency, enjoining "peace on earth and good-will to men. Christian anarchists do not interpret Matthew Jacques Ellul believes the passage shows that Caesar may have rights over the fiat money he produces, but not things that are made by God, as he explains: They were said in response to another matter: The mark on the coin is that of Caesar; it is the mark of his property.
Therefore give Caesar this money; it is his. It is not a question of legitimizing taxes! It means that Caesar, having created money, is its master. Let us not forget that money, for Jesus, is the domain of Mammon , a satanic domain! Ammon Hennacy interpreted Matthew He was on trial for civil disobedience and was asked by the judge to reconcile his tax resistance with Jesus' instructions.
In those days different districts had different money and the Jews had to change their money into that of Rome, so Jesus asked, not for a Jewish coin, but for a coin with which tribute was paid, saying "Why tempt me? Those who tried to trick Him knew that if He said that taxes were to be paid to Caesar He would be attacked by the mobs who hated Caesar, and if He refused to pay taxes there would always be some traitor to turn Him in. His mission was not to fight Caesar as Barabbas had done, but it was to chase the moneychangers out of the Temple and to establish His own Church.
Whether He winked as much as to say that any good Jew knew that Caesar did not deserve a thing as He said, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's," or not, no one knows. We may vary in our reasons for drawing the line here or there as to how much we render unto Caesar. I make my decision when I remember that Christ said to the woman caught in sin, "Let him without sin first cast a stone at her. They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, "The Roman emperor's people demand taxes from us. They come to him and interrogate him as a way of putting him to the test.
They ask, "Teacher, Jesus, we know that you are [from God], since the things you do put you above all the prophets. Tell us, then, is it permissible to pay to rulers what is due them? Should we pay them or not? Then he said to them, "Why do you pay me lip service as a teacher, but not [do] what I say?
How accurately Isaiah prophesied about you when he said, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart stays far away from me; their worship of me is empty, [because they insist on teachings that are human] commandments […]'. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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This article is about the phrase by Jesus. For the film, see Render to Caesar. Tax resistance and Zealotry. This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. December Learn how and when to remove this template message. Separation of church and state. Justification for the state and Christianity and politics. Tax resistance and Society of Friends. The less you have of Caesar's, the less you have to render to Caesar.
Render to God the Things that Are God's
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