The Gospel today is the "Give to Caesar..." gospel. This is a
remarkably interesting gospel as it seems to imply the government has
certain rights, certain authority that might be seen as "divine right."
It certainly is not an anarchistic view.
There is another specific tax reference in the gospel, significantly only in Mathew the tax collector. It also is fascinating, almost comic. Peter is asked if Christ pays the "tribute tax." (This is a 1/2 shekel tax on all adult Jewish males to maintain the Temple, dating back to Moses. It is the reason there are money changers in the Temple.) Peter says Christ does.
Christ then grabs the teaching moment:
"What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
They tax strangers, not their children, "then are the children free," "less we should offend them"--hardly a ringing endorsement. And then He gets the money from the mouth of a fish!
The Tribute Money
Artist Masaccio Year 1425 Type Fresco Dimensions 247 cm × 597 cm (97.2 in × 235 in) Location Brancacci Chapel, Florence (from Wiki)
Christ with disciples in the painting
There is another specific tax reference in the gospel, significantly only in Mathew the tax collector. It also is fascinating, almost comic. Peter is asked if Christ pays the "tribute tax." (This is a 1/2 shekel tax on all adult Jewish males to maintain the Temple, dating back to Moses. It is the reason there are money changers in the Temple.) Peter says Christ does.
Christ then grabs the teaching moment:
"What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
They tax strangers, not their children, "then are the children free," "less we should offend them"--hardly a ringing endorsement. And then He gets the money from the mouth of a fish!
The Tribute Money
Artist Masaccio Year 1425 Type Fresco Dimensions 247 cm × 597 cm (97.2 in × 235 in) Location Brancacci Chapel, Florence (from Wiki)
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