Separating the church from the state

This Sunday we read in the Bible a dramatic encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ and the Pharisees in Matt.22: 15-22. "15 Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. 16 They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. 17 Tell us, then, what is your opinion: It is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?'

18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, 'Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 'Show me the coin that pays the census tax.' Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20 He said to them, 'Whose image is this and whose inscription?' 21 They replied, 'Caesar's.' At that he said to them, 'Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.' 22 When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him, they went away."

We can divide the discussion on this Gospel reading into two parts. The first part is the actual story itself. As the story suggests, the hypocritical Pharisees began to test the Lord by saying, "he is a truthful man." Yet clearly their aim was to trick him into answering their ill-devised question so that the honest Jesus would fall into their trap and tell the truth so he would offend the Romans who were occupying Palestine at that time.

In those days, no self-respecting Jew would say a good word for the census tax or tribute that they had to pay to Rome as this tribute is slapped on all vassal states or countries or the people that the Romans subjugated and occupied. Yet, refusal to pay tribute was an offense against Rome and was therefore taken as a form of inciting to rebellion against the Romans. So the Pharisees thought that Jesus, being an honest Jew, would openly oppose the census tax and thus offend the Romans, which they would immediately report to the Romans so they can arrest Jesus.

The Pharisees did not favor paying the Roman tribute, while the Herodians did. Hence, this question was brought forth by the Pharisees before our Lord Jesus in front of the Herodians. Perhaps they also wanted to find out which of the two were right?

But our Lord Jesus was smarter than them; after all, he is the Son of God. Jesus gives this very clever reply, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." This reply stunned the two groups for they did not expect him to give an answer in this manner. I guess it is because the Pharisees and the Herodians already had a preconceived answer in their minds, that Jesus would reply only in two ways, in an answer that favors either one of them. But that was not to be.

The second way in deciphering the answer of our Lord, which many scholars even today believe that it was about the separation of church and state is an issue that continues to boil up to these times. In a way you can say that our Lord Jesus Christ was also on this earth in all his humanity and therefore if the situation then called for the payment of tribute, then so be it tribute must be paid to Rome and to Caesar.

You will read that an earlier story about taxes was already discussed, in the Payment of the Temple Tax, which should have given the Pharisees and the Herodians the answer they have been looking for. You'll find it in Matt.17: 24-27. "24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, 'Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?' 25 'Yes,' he said.

When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, 'What is your opinion, Simon? From, whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?' 26 he said, 'From foreigners'. Jesus said to him, 'Then the subjects are exempted. 27 But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.'"

If only the Pharisees asked the collectors of the Temple tax whether Jesus the Nazorean paid the Temple taxes, they would have gotten the answer to their future queries. But then, please take note that the Temple tax is for the use and upkeep of the Temple, which Jesus said is his "Father's house". Of course, Jesus wanted to show himself as a good example, that God's children must pay the Temple tax. So when our Lord Jesus said, "to give to Caesar what is due to Caesar", he meant of course the census tax. But when he said, "give to God what belongs to God". One can say that it was his way of separating what belongs to the state and what belongs to the church.

Hence, the separation of church and state. Have a Happy Sunday.

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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit Avila's columns can also be accessed through www.thefreeman.com