At this point in Luke’s Gospel we are beginning to see conspiracy to try to trap Jesus. Jesus is questioned by Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes all looking to catch him in falsehoods so that they can turn him in to the government.
Jesus is Questioned on Authority
While teaching in the temple, elders and scribes ask Jesus where his authority comes from. This makes me wonder if it was what Jesus was teaching that gave them reason to ask this, or if it is because he had recently driven out merchants and sellers from the temple.
Jesus answers them with more questions and a parable of bad tenants in a vineyard. The parable puts the elders in their place saying that they may be running things for now, but if they reject the Master’s Son, they could be destroyed and their power given away.
This is the classic flip we have been seeing since the beatitudes: what is now, will not be in the end.
Jesus is Questioned on Taxes
The next test for Jesus is the question on taxes. They want to find a way to catch him either spiritually or legally. The spiritual test on authority didn’t work, so here is a legal test.
If Jesus says “pay taxes” the Jewish leaders who want to be independent would be mad. Alternatively, if he says not to, they could appeal to the Romans. Jesus’ answer leaves them silent.
“Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Give to Your Likeness
I love this image. It goes back to our creation story and our purpose. In Genesis, God made man in his “image and likeness” (Gen 1:26). This points to where we came from and to whom we should return. Our souls and bodies were made for love and self gift to God and neighbors.
The coin came from the Roman Caesar, so it should be given back to him in the end. This perspective on money as just a coin with an image on it points out its worldly nature. Coins won’t be of any value at the end of time, so Caesar can have them.
What is of value, is our soul with God’s image on it, so we should give our whole selves to Him.
Jesus is Questioned on the Resurrection
Another question Jesus gets is about marriage and the Resurrection which he wisely answers again pointing out that what matters in this life does not always equate to what matters in the next.
Sincere Questioning
Questions can be a good thing, and as we have seen, Jesus loves to reply with questions and gain more understanding. Yet, in this chapter, each question comes across as insincere. There are motives behind each question as if they are a trap. The askers have an answer in mind that they want to hear, or they think they are presenting some kind of riddle.
We should ask questions. Continuous learning and understanding is good. But we should not put God to the test. So when we question Jesus, or ask God for his Will to be done, are we being sincere? Or do we have an answer in mind of what we want?
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