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Sunday, October 29, 2023

Taxes and Tithes

Taxes and Tithes

What Do We Owe to God?

29 October 2023

Introduction

“Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:21

These words of Jesus are recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 22:15–22, Mark 12:13–17, and Luke 20:20–26. They were spoken in response to a question intended to trap Him. But behind this brief exchange lies a deeper lesson about our responsibilities to society, our relationship with God, and the way we use the blessings we receive.

Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the Roman emperor? And how did His answer turn their trap into an opportunity to teach a timeless lesson?

The Historical Background: Taxes in the Time of Jesus

During the time of Jesus, the Jewish people lived under Roman rule. Many hoped that the promised Messiah would deliver them from foreign domination and establish God’s kingdom. They expected a Messiah who would restore their freedom, although their understanding of His mission was not always the same.

Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but His kingdom was not simply a political kingdom established by overthrowing Rome. As He declared before Pilate:

“My Kingdom is not of this world.”
John 18:36

Taxes were an important and often unpopular part of life under Roman authority. The Roman administration collected different kinds of taxes, including taxes connected with property and income, as well as personal or census-related taxes. Tax collection arrangements varied across regions and periods.

For many Jews, paying taxes to a foreign power was not merely a financial burden. It raised a religious and political question: Did paying taxes mean accepting the authority of a pagan ruler over God's chosen people?

In addition to Roman taxes, the Jewish people also had religious obligations connected with the Temple.

The Temple Tax and the Roman Tax

The Law of Moses prescribed a contribution associated with the upkeep of the Tabernacle, described in Exodus 30:11–16. By the time of Jesus, an annual Temple tax was collected for the maintenance of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Jewish people therefore faced both civil and religious obligations. They had to meet the demands of the governing authorities while also supporting the worship and religious life of their community.

Jesus refers to the Temple tax in Matthew 17:24–27. This passage raises questions about Jesus' relationship to the Temple and the obligations expected of Him and His disciples.

It is important, however, to distinguish the Temple tax from the Roman taxes. They arose from different authorities and served different purposes. The Roman tax supported the governing administration, while the Temple tax supported the religious institution.

Why Did the Pharisees Want to Trap Jesus?

The Pharisees and other opponents of Jesus wanted to find a way to discredit Him. The question of paying taxes to Caesar offered them an opportunity to do so.

If Jesus had openly declared that the people should not pay Roman taxes, His opponents could have accused Him before the Roman authorities of encouraging resistance to their rule.

On the other hand, if He had simply supported Roman taxation, His opponents could have portrayed Him as accepting foreign domination, undermining the hopes of those who expected the Messiah to liberate Israel.

Either answer could have been used against Him. The question was designed to place Jesus in a difficult position before the people and the authorities.

But Jesus did not allow Himself to be trapped. He answered in a way that exposed the deeper issue behind their question.

The Roman Coin and Jesus’ Response

Jesus asked His questioners to show Him the coin used for paying the tax. They brought Him a denarius, a Roman coin bearing the image and inscription of the emperor.

Jesus then asked them whose image and inscription were on it. When they answered that they belonged to Caesar, He declared:

“Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:21

His answer was both simple and profound. The coin bore Caesar’s image, and it was used within the Roman system of taxation. Jesus therefore challenged His questioners to recognise their civil responsibilities rather than treating the question as a test of political loyalty.

There was also an irony in their response. They were able to produce the Roman coin that was used to pay the tax. Jesus used this familiar object to turn their attention away from their trap and towards the greater responsibility of giving God what belongs to Him.

Jesus did not say that Caesar possessed unlimited authority, nor did He place the emperor on the same level as God. His answer distinguished civil obligations from our ultimate responsibility to the Lord.

Paying taxes and serving God need not be contradictory. We can fulfil our lawful responsibilities to society while remaining faithful to God above all else.

How Does Jesus Justify His Answer?

To understand the significance of Jesus’ response, we need to understand the coins that circulated among the Jewish people during His time.

Different coins were used for different purposes, including Roman denarii and various local currencies. The denarius was a familiar Roman silver coin, bearing the image of the emperor and an inscription. Jewish coinage also existed, and the Tyrian shekel was particularly important for paying the Temple tax.

For many Jews, the images on coins raised religious concerns. The Law of Moses warned against making images to worship as idols:

“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
Exodus 20:4

Some Jews were therefore uncomfortable with Roman coins bearing the emperor’s portrait and inscriptions associated with Roman religious beliefs. Yet Roman currency was widely used in commerce, and the practical demands of everyday life made it difficult to avoid completely.

This is the background against which Jesus asked His questioners to show Him the coin used to pay the tax. Matthew 22:19–21 records that they brought Him a denarius. Jesus asked whose image and inscription appeared on it. When they answered that it belonged to Caesar, He replied:

“Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:21

Their ability to produce the Roman coin gave Jesus an opportunity to expose the inconsistency in their challenge. They were questioning whether paying the tax was lawful, yet the Roman currency was already part of the world in which they lived and conducted their affairs.

Jesus did not need to enter into a political argument or condemn the use of the coin. Instead, He distinguished between what was owed to Caesar and what was owed to God. The coin bore Caesar’s image, but the question of what belonged to God went far beyond money.

His answer therefore did more than address the payment of a tax. It directed His listeners towards a deeper question: If we recognise our responsibilities in the world around us, do we also recognise our responsibility towards God, to whom we owe our very lives?

What Do We Owe to God?

Jesus’ words invite us to consider a question that reaches far beyond money: What belongs to God?

Everything we have ultimately depends upon Him. Our lives, abilities, opportunities, relationships, and the circumstances that help us succeed are blessings for which we should be grateful.

Of course, our hard work, discipline, and decisions matter. We should not ignore the effort we put into our achievements. But neither should we imagine that our success depends entirely upon ourselves. We do not control every opportunity that comes our way, nor can we take credit for everything that makes our efforts fruitful.

The Pharisees' question concerned what Rome was entitled to receive. Jesus' response also directs our attention towards what we owe to God. If we acknowledge the responsibilities we have towards earthly authorities, should we not also consider how we respond to the One who gives us life?

The question is not simply how much money we give to God. It is whether our lives reflect gratitude, love, justice, and generosity.

Understanding the Biblical Tithe

The word tithe means a tenth. In the Old Testament, tithing was part of the religious and communal life of Israel. It was connected not only with worship but also with the support of the Levites and the care of those in need.

Deuteronomy 14:22–29 describes provisions concerning the tithe. The Israelites were instructed to set aside a portion of their produce and participate in a shared meal before the Lord. The Levites, who did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, were also to be remembered.

The passage further describes a tithe in the third year that was to be made available to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows living in the community.

Notice what this reveals: the biblical practice of tithing was not merely about transferring a portion of one's possessions to a religious institution. It was also about worship, gratitude, fellowship, and responsibility towards others.

The tithe helped sustain the religious life of Israel while ensuring that vulnerable members of the community were not forgotten.

Although Christian traditions differ in how they understand the Old Testament tithe and its application today, the underlying principles of generosity, gratitude, and care for those in need remain important Christian responsibilities.

Giving Freely and Willingly

God is not interested merely in the amount we give. He is also concerned with the spirit in which we give.

In Exodus 25:2, God instructs Moses to receive offerings from those whose hearts prompt them to give. The emphasis is on a willing response.

St Paul expresses the same principle in his teaching to the Corinthians:

“Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7

Giving should therefore arise from gratitude and love rather than fear, pressure, or a desire to impress others. Our offerings may differ according to our circumstances and means, but our hearts should be willing to share what we have.

Some may be able to contribute more financially, while others may have very little to spare. Yet every person can find ways to serve, encourage, comfort, and help others.

What matters is that we recognise our blessings and use them responsibly for the good of others and the glory of God.

What Do We Tithe? Money, Time, and Talents

When we think about giving to God, our first thought is often money. Financial contributions are important because they help sustain the Church's mission and support people who need assistance. But our Christian responsibility does not end with what we put into a collection basket.

We can also give our time, talents, attention, and effort.

We give our time when we visit someone who is lonely, help a family in difficulty, teach children, care for the sick, or participate in the life of our parish. We give our talents when we use our abilities to serve the community rather than keeping them only for our own advancement.

The Sabbath, in the Jewish tradition, was a day set apart for God and rest. Jesus challenged interpretations of the Sabbath that neglected human need. His teaching reminds us that religious observance should never become an excuse to withhold compassion.

In Mark 2:27, Jesus teaches that the Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath. In Matthew 12:9–14, He demonstrates the importance of doing good even on the Sabbath.

These teachings remind us that our relationship with God cannot be separated from our treatment of others. Prayer and worship are essential, but they should lead us towards lives marked by mercy, service, and love.

Jesus Teaches Us to Give to Others

Jesus makes the connection between serving God and caring for others especially clear in His teaching about the final judgment.

In Matthew 25:34–40, He speaks of feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and caring for the sick and imprisoned. He then identifies Himself with those who are in need.

“Because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25:40

This teaching transforms our understanding of giving. When we help someone in need, we are not simply performing a charitable act. We are responding to Christ Himself.

Our gifts may be financial, but they may also take the form of a meal, a visit, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, or practical help at a difficult moment.

Christian community cannot flourish unless its members contribute their time, resources, and effort. We cannot expect others to build a caring community while we remain unwilling to participate in it.

Jesus summarises our calling in Luke 10:27: we are to love God with our whole being and love our neighbours as ourselves. Giving is one of the ways in which this love becomes visible.

Our Success and God's Grace

It is easy to believe that everything we achieve is the result of our own efforts. Hard work is certainly important, but Scripture invites us to remain humble and recognise our dependence upon God.

The psalmist expresses this truth beautifully:

“Unless Yahweh builds the house,
they who build it labor in vain.
Unless Yahweh watches over the city,
the watchman guards it in vain.”
Psalm 127:1

This does not mean that we should stop working or leave everything to God. Rather, it reminds us that our efforts are not the whole story. We work, plan, and make responsible decisions, while recognising that our lives and opportunities ultimately rest in God's hands.

Gratitude should therefore lead us towards generosity. When we acknowledge God's blessings, we become more willing to share them with others. Instead of asking only what we can gain, we begin to ask how we can serve.

Conclusion: Giving Back to God Through Love

Jesus' words, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” invite us to reflect on our responsibilities and priorities.

We have obligations towards the society in which we live. We must also recognise that our deepest allegiance belongs to God. Our faith should shape the way we earn, spend, share, serve, and treat the people around us.

Giving to God is not simply a matter of setting aside a particular amount of money. It is about acknowledging Him as the source of our blessings and allowing that gratitude to influence our lives.

We give back to God when we support the mission of the Church, care for the poor, encourage those who are discouraged, offer our talents in service, and give our time to those who need us.

Let us therefore ask ourselves: Are we using the blessings God has given us only for our own benefit, or are we sharing them in love?

May we learn to give willingly, serve humbly, and recognise Christ in our brothers and sisters. For when we give out of love, our gratitude to God becomes more than words. It becomes a way of life.

References

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