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of the most famous disputes in history occurs between the P'rushim
(Pharisees) and Yeshua the Messiah. The Synoptic Gospels record that the
some disciples of P'rushim, together with members of Herod's
political party, attempted to entrap him in his words. What is not famous,
however, is the immense impact this dispute had on its immediate listeners, including
those who tried to trap him. All were amazed at the words of the Rabbi from
Nazareth, indeed reading the text by itself, his answer is quite brilliant.
However, with a knowledge of the Jewish theological background of His words, His
answer is beyond brilliant, leaving one dumbfounded, speechless, like those who
tried to trap him.
"Then the P'rushim went and plotted how they might
ensnare Him in His words. And they sent their disciples to Him, with the
Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of
Elohim in truth, nor do you regard about anyone, for you do not care about
the social status of men. Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it
lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Yeshua perceived their evil
purposes, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the tax
money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image
and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them,
"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to Elohim what is Elohim's." When
they had heard these words, they were amazed, and left Him and went their
way."
Mattityahu 22:15 - 22, Cf. Mark 12: 13-17, Luke 20:20-26
It is important to note that the
P'rushim enlisted the help of Herod's political faction. What was the purpose in
their presence in this question of halakha? The Herodians were
political, not religious figures. Notice the introductory words of
the P'rushim,
"Teacher, we know that you . . . teach the way of Elohim in truth, nor
do you care about anyone, for you do not regard the social status of men."
They begin to "praise" Yeshua for His
fearlessness in preaching the truth, despite whom it might offend, and
intentionally highlight the fact that he is not afraid to speak it in front
of anyone, regardless of their financial, religious or political status. This
was said because members of Herod's political party were present, deliberately
included in this dispute so they could "witness" His answer to their trick
question. Including the Herodians, who would have been quick to inform Herod of
the slightest word spoken against Caesar, superficially guarded the Pharisees from being classed as
moserim, 'informers', who were categorized along with heathens,
irreligious Jews, and minim. The Jewish Encyclopedia notes,
"Nothing was more severely punished
by the Jews than talebearing; and no one was held in greater
contempt than the informer. On account of the fact that his deeds
frequently caused mischief and even entailed death and destruction,
the sages of the Talmud compared the "moser" to a serpent."
Jewish Encyclopedia on
Moser
If Yeshua spoke anything against the tribute paid to Caesar, this would
be considered a promotion for the overthrow of Rome. In paying taxes, you
acknowledge the governmental authority to whom you give tribute. Denying the
power of the ruling government to collect taxes undermines the foundation of
their lawful authority. It is no secret that the Jewish people were not fond of
Rome, as they rightly felt that Israel belonged to them, and prayed fervently
for the coming of the Messiah to restore their kingdom, and autonomy. This hope
ultimately culminated in the uprising against Rome, which lead to the destruction
of the Temple and the exile of Israel.
On the other hand, if Yeshua's answer affirmed the authority of Rome to collect taxes, He in
essence would have denied the hope of Israel, their right to autonomy, and
indeed the Torah's proclamation that the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish
people. All of his followers, who all passionately desired to see the Kingdom
restored to Israel, would have been crushed if Yeshua had sided with Rome and
denied a fundamental precept of the Torah. Conversely, if he had denied the
right of Caesar to collect taxes, as the P'rushim had expected, the members of
Herod's political party would have immediately ran and told Herod, who would in
turn have informed Caesar of Yeshua's promotion of insurrection - which
inevitably would have lead to His arrest and possible execution for sedition.
This is the ultimate "rock and a hard place".
However,
the wicked plans of the moserim are about to be frustrated! The
Super-Rabbi asks for the coin for a visual aid for his upcoming answer,
"Show me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They
said to Him, "Caesar's."
What coin
was this? What did it look like? It is possible the coin that they brought
to was the Pontif Maxim:
"Tiberius was Emperor for 23 years and is represented by two denarii.
After 15 AD all Tiberius denarii were the same type: PONTIF MAXIM
surrounding a seated female figure. Huge numbers of these coins were
produced; many thousands of them still exist today."
Doug Smith,
Tiberius: The Tribute Penny
However, there were many denarii circulating at this time, therefore,
" . . . there is no real evidence that Jesus saw this coin. Denarii in
circulation that day (over fifteen years into the reign of Tiberius) would
have included quite a mix of Republican types and vast numbers of the common
types of Caesar Augustus . . . The purpose of the coin in this case could
have satisfied by any Republican denarius with a head and Latin inscription.
That coin collectors have settled on this one coin as THE Tribute Penny is
more of a convention than a historical fact. It is, however, quite likely
that this type was among the most common denarii in circulation in the early
30's AD and it does show the Emperor who reigned at the time of the ministry
of Jesus Christ."
Doug Smith,
Tiberius: The Tribute Penny
Confident that they had painted the Great Teacher into an inescapable corner,
Yeshua answers their treacherous plot with words that have echoed throughout
millennia,
"Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a
denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They
said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is
Caesar's, and to Elohim what is Elohim's." When they had heard these words,
they were amazed, and left Him and went their way."
If this answer is enough to make the
eyes of the first time reader widen with admiration for the brilliance of the
reply, imagine how much more to those who actually heard Him speak it. However,
the theological backdrop of his reply deepens the Rabbi's response, and reveals
unknown depths and meaning to His amazing words. Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish
scholar at the time of Yeshua, known for his Platonic and allegorical
interpretations of the Bible, makes a remarkable comment on the creation
of the mind and rational soul of man,
". . . the great
Moses has not named the species of the rational soul by a title
resembling that of any created being, but has pronounced it an image
of the divine and invisible being, making it a coin as it were of
sterling metal, stamped and impressed with the seal of God, the
impression of which is the eternal word."
Philo, Concerning Noah's Work As a Planter, Section V,
translated by C.D. Yonge
The Mishnah, an ancient
document of halakhic rulings, was codified around 120 A.D., yet it
preserves older Jewish traditions, many contemporary with the Second
Temple period. It is divided into six sections, or orders, which are
composed of various tractates of different subject matter. Tractate
Sanhedrin, which focuses on criminal law, makes a statement in a similar
vein to that of Philo:
"For a person mints
many coins with a single seal, and they are all alike one another. But the
King of king of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, minted all human beings
with that seal of his with which he made the first person, yet not one of
them is like anyone else. Therefore everyone is obligated to maintain, "On
my account the world was created."
Mishnah,
Sanhedrin 4:5
Professor Brad H. Young,
author of many critical works on Yeshua of Nazareth, comments,
"Perhaps these theological concepts
serve as a background for the saying of Jesus, "Then render to
Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are
God's." After all, not only is Caesar's image stamped upon each coin
that he has minted; the divine image of the King of kings is stamped
upon each person. Jesus was calling upon the people to give
everything to God, the Creator of every human being."
Brad H. Young, The Parables, Jewish Tradition and
Christian Interpretation, Hendrickson Publishers, pg. 10
This understanding amplifies Yeshua's
amazing words. Give
unto the earthly king his image, and give unto the Heavenly King His
Image, that is, yourselves, your entire being, and all that is
within you. As when the rich young ruler came to Rabbi Yeshua, and asked
Him, "What is the greatest mitzvah (commandment)?", Yeshua's answer to
him was, in essence, the same as it was to the Herodians and Pharisees,
give unto Adonai your entire being, the very fulfillment of the Sh'ma:
Hear O Israel, YHVH our God YHVH is One.
And you shall love YHVH your God with all your heart (lev), with
all your soul (nephesh), and with all your might (me'od).
Devarim 6:4-5
Images of the Pontiff Maxim are © copyright Doug
Smith.
Special thanks to Doug Smith for his permission to use images of the Pontiff
Maxim.
Visit his website at
http://dougsmith.ancients.info/
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