Tribute For Caesar

Greetings,

Since today's reading was from Mark 12:13:27, the pericope that deals with the famous, "Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's" story and since as a collector of Biblical coins - I thought I'd share a little about it.

Matthew 22:15-22

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. -ESV

Mark 12:13-17

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. - ESV

Luke 20:19-26

19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent. - ESV

A genuine (Silver) Tiberius Denarius (Tribute Penny) from
Matthew 22:15-22 / Mark 12:13-17 / Luke 20:19-26. - Author's personal collection.












An ancient counterfeit (Bronze core, silver plating worn off) Tiberius Denarius (Tribute Penny) from Matthew 22:15-22 / Mark 12:13-17 / Luke 20:19-26. - Author's personal collection.

The Obverse side has a picture of the emperor Tiberius with the inscription:
TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS

DIVI means 'Divine'.

The Reverse side has a seated figure of Livia depicted as Pax (goddess of peace) holding as Olive branch and an inverted spear with the inscription PONTIF MAXIM.

PONTIF MAXIM is short for Pontifex Maximus - the title for the Roman State High Priest.

So Caesar (Tiberius in this case) was both the official 'head' Roman god and the head of the entire Roman religion. Get it? “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” The Jews (Pharisees) Christ spoke to were NOT honoring God, they were carrying a coin that was about as Kosher as a medium-rare, bacon-cheese burger. The Pharisees wanted to nail Jesus for endorsing tax evasion and his counter to them showed (by their possession of the coin) that they were not keeping the Mosaic Law.

Jews were not allowed to mint coins with depictions of humans or animals, it was against Mosaic law. Furthermore, such coins were not to be carried in Jerusalem. Most Jewish coins had devices such as Amphorae, Barley, Laurel Wreathes, Pomegranates & Palm Trees.

St. Augustine wrote concerning this passage,

"Caesar seeks his image; render it. God seeks his image; render it. Do not withhold from Caesar his coin. Do not keep from God his coin. To this they could not think of anything to answer. For they had been sent to slander him. And they went back saying: No one could answer him. Why? Because he had shattered their teeth in their mouth.” - St. Augustine, ON THE PSALMS 58.8. ACCS Vol 2 pg. 160

and how true! They hoped to catch Jesus in his own words as Luther says,

“This is the same way that John Huss and Jerome of Prague were burned at Constance. No one there could honestly contradict them, so false opinions were ascribed to them, as can be seen clearly from the writings and books of both of them. Likewise Christ, when he says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” [Matt. 22:21], should really have said that one should not pay Caesar any interest.^{” - Martin Luther, Luther's Works, Vol. 39 : Church and Ministry I.}

Since what Christ said embarrassed them, they had to create false charges with false witnesses (Mark 14:55-60) to put Him on trial for His crucifixion.

No wonder we don't like to talk about money in Church!!!

Well, that's all for now.



TTFN & God Bless,

Jim
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