On one level, one can say, of course, that Jesus was very insightful into the political implications of his answer; that Jesus outwitted his opponents and beat them at their own game; and that his answer was sufficiently unclear as to draw no fire from either the priests or the people. But to leave it there is unsatisfactory. The church from Luke’s time until the present has had to deal with Caesar and the claims of Caesar on the lives of those in his realm, and the church needs more than clever wit and debating skills. Good answers to crafty opponents are one thing, but at issue are decisions, priorities, and loyalties. As in other matters, the church looks to Jesus for guidance. While Christians struggle with the confession “Jesus is Lord” in Caesar’s world, the taxes continue to come due. Several statements can be made about Jesus’ response, “Render to Caesar.…” First, the issues are too complex to be laid out in two lists, duties to God and duties to Caesar. Second, every situation calls for discernment as to what really is at stake. For Luke, all rulers come under the sovereignty of God, and to try to rule outside that sovereignty is to come under God’s wrath. On the other hand, the Roman government at times gave favorable protection to Christians and as a result received from Luke very good marks. For those who call Caesar “Lord” the matter is simply handled. For those who call Caesar “Satan” the matter is just as simply handled. But if the church can at times support the state and at other times must resist the state, then answers are neither simple nor final. The struggle resumes anew in every situation. Third, for Jesus personally the question put to him was a real test. In the desert, prior to his public ministry, Jesus had wrestled with this very issue. In fact, both Mark and Matt[hew ] report that Jesus says to his questioners, “Why put me to the test?” In other words, Jesus is facing not simply a tough theological question but a difficult personal question. In the final analysis, he found himself opposed by both the political and the religious authorities; church and state conspired against him. One can hardly imagine a heavier demand on a person: called to obey God, not simply in the face of political wrath but without the support of the community of faith. It still happens. Finally, Jesus’ words about Caesar and God meant that the church would have to continue in every time and place to interpret in specific ways the meaning of those words. --F. B. Craddock, Luke. Interpretation
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:12:12 +0000