Paying Taxes to the Emperor

Today's Reflections

Paying Taxes to the Emperor 

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Mk 12:13-17

¹³Some Pharisees and Herodians [were sent to Jesus] to ensnare him in his speech. ¹⁴They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” ¹⁵Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” ¹⁶They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.

Reflection:

What belongs to God. Strict defenders of tradition, the Pharisees form an unholy alliance with the Herodians who work and connive with the Romans. They intend to ensnare Jesus in his speech and ask if it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not. If Jesus says yes, he will be disloyal to the Jewish people, but if he says no, he will be advocating rebellion against Rome. As far as the questioners are concerned, it is a no-win situation for Jesus. But Jesus cleverly replies that one must give to Caesar what is due to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

The Gospel is a lesson on honesty. We must be true to our words, honest in our actions, and transparent in our relationships. As Jesus reminds us, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one” (Mt 5:37).

The story warns us against hypocrisy. Jesus asks, “Why are you testing me?” Hypocrisy is pretension or deception. Its opposite is honesty and sincerity. We must give to God what belongs to God, and we must remember that everyone and everything belong to God. As the Psalmist puts it, “The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds, the world and those who live there” (Ps 24:1).

Do I offer back to God

the praise and the glory due to God?