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13后来，他们打发几个法利赛人和几个希律党的人到耶稣那里，要就着他的话陷害他。14他们来了，就对他说：“夫子，我们知道你是诚实的，什么人你都不徇情面，因为你不看人的外貌，乃是诚诚实实传 神的道。纳税给凯撒可以不可以？15我们该纳不该纳？”耶稣知道他们的假意，就对他们说：“你们为什么试探我？拿一个银钱来给我看！”16他们就拿了来。耶稣说：“这像和这号是谁的？”他们说：“是凯撒的。”17耶稣说：“凯撒的物当归给凯撒， 神的物当归给 神。”他们就很希奇他。
众人都对于耶稣的回答感到惊讶，我们也应当感到惊讶。当耶稣的敌人称赞耶稣时，耶稣能看穿他们的口是心非，对他们关于纳税的问题，耶稣给出了很好的神学方面的回答。犹太人的领袖把这个狡猾的问题带到耶稣面前，“纳税给凯撒可以不可以？我们该纳不该纳？”，他们以为能藉此给耶稣设个陷阱。犹太人不喜欢向凯撒纳税。有些人甚至认为这是不道德的，因为凯撒声称自己是神，罗马的银钱上就是这么写的。所以如果耶稣说他们应该纳税，他们可以告诉以色列百姓，耶稣支持罗马的统治。如果耶稣说他们不应该纳税，他们可以向罗马政府举报并逮捕他。
他们问了耶稣一个“要么这样要么那样”的问题，耶稣给了他们一个“两者都要”的回答。事奉上帝和向凯撒纳税并不是相互排斥的，非此即彼的，而是两者都要的。事实上，正如保罗在罗马书中指出的，服事这个世上的政权也是一种服事上帝的行为。世上的政权因为给我们提供的服务，而有权征税。因此，实际上，纳税只是归还所欠的，就像我们服事上帝，只是把他丰富的赐给我们的归还给他一样。
作为神的百姓，我们可以在我们的心思意念中把这两者区分开。有人可能会问你这个问题。“这样一个支持和资助堕胎的政府，你凭良心怎么能向这样的政府纳税?”我的回答和耶稣的一样。凯撒的物当归给凯撒，神的物当归给神。我们的政府不是，也永远不会是完美的。我纳税是因为神把我安置在这个国家，政府提供了许多我自己无法提供的东西——警察、消防部门、学校、道路等。我不会敬拜我的政府;我只敬拜上帝。我们不应该在没有冲突的情况下制造内心的冲突。如果我的政府命令我去做错误的事，违背圣经的事，那就不一样了。那我就得顺从神而不是顺从人了。
祷告:主耶稣，我感谢你赐下我们的政府。求你帮助我成为国家的忠实的公民。但同时求你提醒我，只有你才配得上我心中的敬拜!阿们。
Mark 12:13-17: Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 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? 15 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.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 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. (NIV)
The people were amazed at Jesus’ answer, and we should be as well. Jesus could see through their duplicity and answer their question with good theology. The leaders of the Jews brought this trick question to Jesus. They thought they had a trap that would work. Paying taxes to Caesar was unpopular with the Jews. Some even thought it was immoral, because Caesar claimed to be a god. It said so on the back of his coin. So if Jesus said they should pay taxes, they could tell the people he supported Roman rule. And if he said they shouldn’t pay taxes, they could report this to the governor and have him arrested.
They asked Jesus an “either/or” question, and he answered them with a “both/and” answer. Serving God and paying taxes to Caesar were not mutually exclusive. In fact, as Paul pointed out in Romans, serving the secular authorities was also an act of serving God. Secular authorities had a right to levy taxes because of the services they provided. So in effect, paying taxes was only giving back what was owed, much in the same way we only give back to God what he has abundantly given us.
As God’s people we can keep these separate in our hearts and minds—and should. Someone might ask you this question. “How can you in good conscience pay taxes to a government that supports and funds abortions?” My answer would be the same as the one Jesus gave. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. My government is not and will never be perfect. I pay taxes because God placed me in this country, and the government provides for many things which I could not provide for myself—police, fire departments, schools, roads, etc. I do not WORSHIP my government; I worship God alone. We shouldn’t make a conflict in our hearts when none exists. If my government commanded me to do wrong, that’s different. Then I would have to obey God rather than man. There. I used a hundred or more words to say what Jesus said with thirteen words. He still amazes me!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am thankful for the government that you have given us. Help me be a faithful citizen to my country. At the same time, remind me that only you deserve the worship of my heart! Amen.
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