Oct 20, 2002

Mindekirken

Oct. 20, 2002

Pr. Jens Arne Dale

Give to the emperor…

Matthew 22:15-22

If Jesus had run for governor in Minnesota, it would have been interesting to see him in a TV-debate. An important tactic in the election campaign is to weaken one’s opponent. It could for instance be done by TV commercials. Maybe it’s effective, but it gives more insight to listen to politicians when they come forward with reasoning when the political message really is debated.

In his time, Jesus was exposed to smear campaigns, based on half-truths and lies.

But his opponents could also meet him in open conversation. We used to think of Jesus as a mild and friendly person, but in the controversies, Jesus is ready to fight, and when he finally takes a crushing oral account with his enemies, he speaks very clearly: "You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell?" Matt. 23:33. Maybe the American election campaign isn’t that bad after all. Sayings of Jesus like this are not really proper for Sunday School memorization work. In today’s text we have a more polite form. The Pharisees are quite flattering in their words to Jesus: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one: for you do not regard people with partiality." This was a nice testimony, but it’s only camouflage for the question that was meant to catch Jesus: "Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" The question is intricate. If Jesus answers Yes, it would be to accept the Roman suppression. That would be to let down the Jewish hope of liberty, disappoint all those who hoped he was the Messiah. If he answers No, it would be like rebellion. The fact is that the Jewish rebellion shortly after the death of Jesus started with tax denial, went on in open war and for a short period of time. Israel was a free nation, only to experience that the Romans came and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in the year 70. When the same thing happened 65 years later, the people were expelled from the country, and they haven’t returned until modern times. It looks like Jesus can say neither, yes or no. The Pharisees felt good about it. They believed they had caught Jesus in his words. But then Jesus answers in a way that would make every politician envious: "Show me the coin used for the tax." They brought him a denarius. "Whose head is this, and whose title?" It was obvious – Everyone went around with the picture of the emperor in his pocket. And Jesus uses this against them. When you enjoy the privileges of the emperor, you also have to give what he demands. But the power of the emperor has its limits. God has also given us privileges. So give then to God the things that are God’s. The answer is brilliant. It’s as difficult to catch Jesus in words as it is to catch a piece of soap in the bathtub. When you think you have got it, it slips away. They were amazed, and left him. Matthew is polite enough to refuse to say that they had gotten "long-nosed". Give the emperor the things that are the emperor’s. This would become a difficult part of Jesus’ teaching. In the NT we find quite different opinions of the emperor. In Revelation 17, we read about the Great Whore. She is the opposite of the pure bride who is a symbol of the church. The Great Whore is Rome, with its blasphemous worship of the emperor. The Book of Revelation is written at a time when Christians were persecuted in a cruel way. Therefore the emperor of Rome could be considered the anti-Christ. But in this respect, Revelation is an exception in the NT. It’s correct that the first Christians were persecuted. But the extent of this was less than what we usually think. We have heard tear-jerking stories about how the first Christians were thrown to the wild beasts in the Coliseum. But the fact is that there is no source speaking about this. Just the opposite, the emperor is the one who secures law and order. Also, the Christians benefited from that, even though we don’t speak of a state governed by law, according to the measure of our time. When Paul came to Jerusalem, and was almost torn into pieces by raging Jews, Roman soldiers rescued him. When he faced torture he claimed to be a Roman citizen. That was an exclusive right, and in fact that gave Paul the right to appeal his case before the emperor. That’s how Paul came and preached the gospel in the world’s capital. Maybe it’s not strange that Paul writes: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God." Rom. 13:1. Paul had a positive attitude toward Roman authority. The authority was God’s servant. Through that God’s will is done in the world. The rulers are not a threat to good conduct, but to bad. It’s part of God’s will to us that we should be useful citizens of society. "Pay to all what is due them – taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect…" Rom 13:7. Obedience is an important word even today, but we have to add another: responsibility. Who is the authority in a democracy? It’s everyone who votes. Exercise your right to vote. Take responsibility. Take part in an open and critical debate in society. Political and social questions should concern a Christian. This is an aspect that Edvard Hoem’s texts remind us of so strongly. We use some of them in today’s hymns. To take political responsibility doesn’t mean that the church should stick to one political side. There are too many examples of a tragic mixture of politics and Christianity. To give the emperor the things that are the emperor’s may be to work for the best of others in family, profession, and society. God has not withdrawn what was said at creation. "Fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…" Gen. 1:28. At the same time Paul says: "Our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phil 3:20. What does that mean? That we shall be evacuated from this world of tears as we sing in a hymn? No, Jesus became a human, like you and me. He saw the beauty of the lilies of the field, and he rejoiced at the birds of the sky. He had compassion for all of the harassed, and showed love to each and every one who lived. Jesus is the Creator. He didn’t come to throw his creation in the trash can, but he came to clean, save and restore everything that is damaged by sin. To give God the things that are God’s is to come to him with one’s sin and become a re-born child of God, enveloped in his forgiveness. To give all to God is to receive all, by grace. This is the good news – this is why the church exists – to proclaim this news. This is why we have missions. Last Sunday, a friend from my student days visited me. He has lived in Jerusalem for 10 years, where he has worked to open the eyes of the Jews to the gospel. I asked him, wasn’t it difficult to live in a place with so many terrorist attacks? Yes, he said, but I have made up my mind to think that I live for something that is worth dying for. Do you live for something that is so important that it’s worth dying for? Who do you really live for? To give God the things that are God’s, is to live for the Lord with all we have and are.

Glory be to God, the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen

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