UNDAILY Episode 151
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?”he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
MARK 12, 13-17 (NIV)
The Gospel according to Saint Mark describes an encounter between Jesus, the Pharisees, and the supporters of Herod, who cunningly ask, "Is it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar, or not?" This question is more complex than it seems, as it pertains not only to finances but, more importantly, to the definitions of loyalty and spiritual identity. Jesus does not fall into the intellectual trap and responds, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's." (...)
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