You Have to Choose Between Treason Against Caesar or Idolatry Against God: How Jesus Traps Hypocrites

“Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.” (Mark 12:17)

In a previous post I explained why Jesus riddle of giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s meant that nothing was Caesar’s and everything was God’s. I explained that American Christians are accountable to only one King whose name is Jesus and obey but one Law. We know the Lord of Heaven does not share glory and we live in peaceful defiance against any usurpers to His throne.

After sending that post to a friend, I was asked why Jesus answered the question about taxes with the riddle “Render to Caesar what is Caesar and render to God what is God’s”. That will be the jumping off point of this post.

If you look closely, you’ll see that Jesus trapped the Pharisees in their own hypocrisy, which was a common practice of his (“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7))

Jesus’ answer forces the Pharisee’s to choose between Caesar and God which theologically shouldn’t have been a problem for them…Surely the Pharisee’s knew and believed in God’s sovereignty from passages like Psalm 24:1, Psalm 20:7, Haggai 2:8, and 1 Chronicles 29:12.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

“‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts.” (Haggaia 2:8)

“Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.” (1 Chronicles 29:12)

Logically from these ideological passages it follows that anything rendered to Caesar is something withheld from the rightful recipient, God himself. Since everything is owed to God, nothing is owed to Caesar. This traps the Pharisees in a choice between committing treason to Caesar (by saying everything should be rendered to God) and idolatry against God (saying the taxes should be rendered to Caesar). To render alms, honor, taxes, and worship to Caesar is to commit idolatry against God, which is a violation of the law of Moses. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) To withhold the tax is to commit treason since no tyranny permits disobedience. Theologically idolatry against God is blasphemous and punishable by death as is outlined in the law of Moses in Deuteronomy 17:2-5:

“If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the LORD your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, by transgressing His covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not commanded, and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, then you shall bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil deed to your gates, that is, the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death.”

Practically, however, the penalty for treason under Roman law was typically execution or expulsion from Roman lands. Examples of Roman citizens who were executed for treason include Lucius Cornelius Sulla who attempted to restore the Republic, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus who attempted a coup against Augustus, and Marcus Licinius Crassus who attempted a coup against Julius Caesar. The Jews were already on shaky grounds after the Maccabean revolt of that was finally crushed in 134 BCE. The religious leaders had to be conference with what Caesar might do if word spread of a new Jewish movement that supported a Messiah King who denounced Caesar and rejected taxes. Surely it would mean the end of their practical influence with the Romans and likely harsh punishment by the State.

This was the stage that was set when Jesus said “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” 

Over the course of his earthly life, Jesus had observed these leaders and knew their hearts. He knew that since the Babylonia captivity many of Israel’s leaders had lost faith in the Living God and adopted a kind of realpolitik, which is a form of political diplomacy based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations. By framing his answer to their question about taxation as a question of rendering between Caesar and God, Jesus cuts through generations of cynicism and faithlessness, exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He gives them a choice between a Roman cross (the punishment of treason) or the judgment of God. A few weeks later the King of the Jews would be hanging from that instrument of torture and execution and three days after his death, He would rise triumphantly from the grave, putting all His enemies, including Caesar below his feet. As it is written, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Psalm 110:1)

Let this then be a warning to any religious leader of our day, like the Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson or many so called American Christians who conflate obedience to the State with obedience to God and pretend their can be some things that are rendered to Caesar and some things rendered to God. Jesus was clear. He unequivocally stated, “No man can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24) and warned his followers to fear the wrath of God against idolatry more than the sword of the state against treason. Jesus said, 

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

So many churches today, especially in America, resemble the Pharisees who pretended to worship God while expressing fearing the wrath of Caesar. They straddle the fence and never take a stand that would draw the ire of authorities. They fear the police and teach their members to pay taxes and participate in a fraudulent economy that worships money abide all things. No wonder their love is so cold, their influence so weak, and their testimony so shallow. When the apostle John foresaw the second coming of Christ, he heard Jesus speaking this word to the church in Laodocea. 

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:15-17)

How descriptive of the American church! 

If there is one thing Jesus hates, it’s people pretending to be one thing while actually being another. This lukewarm spirit of the religious leaders of his day was exposed time and time again, and it will be fully revealed on the day of the Lord when the “Son of Man will come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and render each person according to what they have done.” (Matthew 16:27) Could it not be said of the American church that we have been lukewarm towards Christ and His kingdom because we feared losing riches and wealth if we stopped paying taxes? Why risk much when you can sit back and wait to see which way the wind blows? Aren’t the rich churches the least likely to take a stand against violence, corruption, and injustice? When students across the country at universities like Harvard, Yale, Kent State, USC, and UT Austin protested America’s support for genocide in Gaza, who damned them if not the religious right? The House Speaker Mike Johnson, who claims to be a follower of Christ, hosted a press conference at Columbia denouncing these students as terrorists! Meanwhile the blood of Palestinian children cry out ““How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10)

It seems as though the Lord permits seasons where He withholds His justice to let faithless and mean spirited men convict themselves fully and for the faithful to share in the sufferings of Christ. We are “told to wait a little longer, until the full number of our fellow servants, our brothers and sisters, are killed.” (Revelation 6:11) 

In conclusion, God is the only Soverign in all the world. While many promise great reward for obedience and great punishment for treason, only God can deliver everlasting life. There is great reward awaiting those who oppose Caesar, not with guns or swords (John 18:36), but with an unshaking allegiance to Christ and His Kingdom. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

If today you have yet to take a stand for Christ, if you have “neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.” (Matt 23:23), then repent without delay! Commit to standing in the gap between those who practice evil and their victims. Oppose the war in Gaza and Ukraine. Cut off your funding to the state! Reject that monetary monstrosity that is the U.S. Dollar, the mark of the beast that globally controls all trade and commerce. Reject all laws and regulations that are not in alignment with goodness, justice, and truth. And if you find yourself in precarious circumstances because of your allegiance to the King of Heaven, if “in this life you have trouble” (John 16:33), consider it  pure joy! (James 1:2-4). May you stand firm in your faith knowing one day you will hear these words:

“‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matt 25:23)