Wednesday – Luke 20: 19-26
Jesus finds himself in a pickle again today. Some spies come to him trying to trip him up. They asked him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not. I think they thought they had him. If he answered “yes” then Jesus would be at odds with the entire nationalist population and if he answered “no,” he would lay himself open to the charge of Treason. Jesus was not non committal as some might think in his answer, but he was crafty. The “denarius” was a silver coin that was minted by the Romans bearing the likeness and inscription of Augustus of Tiberius. However the coinage issued by Judea was made of bronze or copper and carried emblems like an olive branch or a palm branch. This was because the Jewish law prohibited the deified emperors.
Jesus answer also showed that the two loyalties were not incompatible.
Questions for Reflection and Comment:
Imagining yourself there when Jesus answered the spies.
What was their reaction?
What tone of voice did Jesus use in his answer?
What question do you want to ask Jesus about his answer?
Can we be loyal to our state and God today?
What would that look like?
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