耶穌與法利賽人和希律黨人關於納稅問題的對話是個很有名的故事。這個故事最希奇的地方是，法利賽人和希律黨人聯合起來試探耶穌，要捉祂話語裡的把柄。這兩個團體彼此間並沒有什麼關聯，事實上，他們的政治觀點還南轅北轍。法利賽人是激烈的民族主義者，希律黨人則傾向效忠統治他們的羅馬帝國。所以前者反對納稅給該撒，後者卻舉雙手贊成。但此刻他們站在同一陣線上來試探耶穌。不論宗教或政治團體都視耶穌為一大威脅。

        耶穌對他們的問題首先報以憤怒：「假冒為善的人哪，為什麼試探我？」然後聰明的要他們拿一個納稅的錢給祂看。下一個問題很簡單：「錢上的像和號是誰的？」他們回答：「是該撒的。」接下來就是耶穌有名的答案：「該撒的物當歸給該撒，上帝的物當歸給上帝。」

        耶穌拒絕與任何的狂熱民族主義者合作。雖然祂宣稱祂是以色列的領袖，但祂拒絕一切只著眼於短暫政治力量的王權。在耶穌所代表的王國裡，每一樣東西都是上帝的。也就是說，即使一個人把該撒的物歸給該撒，所有那些錢和政治的組織最終都要落入上帝的統治之下。

        這點值得留意。特別對那些常將基督教與資本主義和西方世界聯想在一起的人，上帝的大能正運行在東方共產主義的國家中。祂不受我們政治上的意識型態和不同的派別所影響，因祂是萬有之主。

        主，我們為您無限的智慧感謝您。就像昔日所羅門王的心願一樣，我們也求您賜給我們智慧，使我們能像耶穌在面對充滿敵意的群眾，和棘手的場合裡，仍能有效的表達您的真理。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        Here we have one of the most famous stories about Jesus, when He comments on giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. What is fascinating about the story is that the Pharisees and the Herodians got together in attempting to trap Jesus in His words. These two groups had very little to do with one another, and in fact represented totally different political points of view. The Pharisees would be against paying tribute to Caesar, but the Herodians would be for it. Yet here they were, working together. Both the religious and the political establishments saw Jesus as a threat.

        Jesus’ response to the question is anger, “you hypocrites, why are you trying to trap Me?”, and then tremendous cleverness, “show Me the coin used for paying the tax.” (I think it is interesting Jesus didn’t have a denarius to His name.) The next question is simple, “whose portrait is this? whose inscription?” “Caesar’s, they replied, then followed the famous answer.

        Jesus refused to align Himself and His message with any kind of zealous nationalism. Though He claimed to be Israel’s leader, He denied any kind of kingship which was focused only on temporal and political power. The kingdom that Jesus represented was one in which everything id God’s. This meant that even though one rendered unto Caesar that which was Caesar’s, all of those monies and political infrastructures would ultimately fall under God’s dominion.

        It’s a good point. Especially for those of us who associate Christianity with capitalism and the west. God is working powerfully in communist countries in the east. He’s not subject to our political ideologies and divisions, for He is Lord of all.

       Thank You Lord, for Your infinite wisdom. As Solomon of old prayer for wisdom, so do we, that we might communicate Your truth in tough situations, as Jesus did with a hostile crowd.