Heads or Tails?

Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees have been trying to trick Jesus, and this time they brought a group of Herodians, for a specific question.  The question is about the Roman Census Tax, which honestly was something Pharisees were against in principle.  Hence, they needed to bring another who would have been truly insulted by someone denouncing the tax.  The Pharisees did not actively campaign against this tax in fear, but awaited a Messiah that would free them from all Roman control.

The Herodians were invested in the Roman system.  They supported the “puppet” king Herod, whose power was enabled by the the Roman’s power.  The tax was central to their power, to their identity.  Thus the Pharisees knew that if Jesus answered against the tax, they would have him arrested.  Even though they were against it themselves, they had apparently not questioned it, they would probably only go as far to say when the Messiah comes and saves Israel.  If Jesus spoke that the tax was lawful, the Pharisees hoped he would lose some of His followers.  Little did they know that even His closest followers would deny Him and He would still save the world.  The Pharisees were hoping to expose Jesus as not the Messiah, for the Messiah would certainly stand against the tax.

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and made it clear that He knew of their malice, and called them hypocrites.  In part for they were saying nice things to Him while trying to trap Him, but also because Jesus knew they believed the tax as being against the Torah.  So Jesus asked for the coin one would use to pay the tax, which required a Roman coin.  Jesus asks whose image and title are on that coin.  The Herodians so the coin and their power, so the answer given did not offend them.  The Pharisees saw the emperor and saw the titled “Tiberius Caesar August Son of the Divine Augustus” (or something very similar). They knew that the Roman Empire was also the Roman Religion, and that they believed the Emperor to be a god.   That certainly goes against Jewish Law.  Jesus says you can give that coin, that idol, back to Ceasar, for it is his, but give to God what is God’s.  Harkening to the creation when the image of God was put on earth:

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
So God created humankind in his image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:26-27)

While the Herodians looked at the coin and saw their own power, all others saw the image of God amongst themselves.  They knew what was God’s and it was not the coin, it was the people.  Paul emphasizes this very well,

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

Jesus answered quite bluntly that it was not simply about following the Torah (the Law) but that it is all turned head over heals, back to the garden.  God wants each person to know the “garden” that is the Kingdom of Heaven as come near.  For Jesus is quite clear on the mountain,

No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24)

It is not a question of tax or no tax, head or tails, it is a new life in Christ, head over tails change.