by Mark Escobar

Created on: January 03, 2010

Readings:  Is 45:1, 4-6; Ps 96:1-5, 7-10; 1 Thess 1:1-5b; Matt 22:15-21

“Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”  Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?  Show me the coin that pays the census tax.”  ....... Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

In the course of Jewish history especially at the time when ancient Israel was destroyed (AD 70) that lost its nationhood, and democracy gave birth to the founding of the modern State of Israel, agriculture was the main occupation of Jews.  However, with the arrival of the Romans[1] in 63 CE, administrative policies on farming were implemented with hostility over Judea.  Israel that time produced olives, figs, dates, grains and vineyard products.  Jews were obligated to pay a traditional tithe to the temple as a form of support to the priesthood.  There was chaos; the temple was looted and seized to the ground.  Taxing system steadily increased upon the farmers which forced them to abandon their lands and emigrate to cities like Sepphoris[2] and Tiberias.[3]

            At the time of Roman emperors like Caligula and Nero, corruption and oppression were two predominant scenarios that made the Jews revolt against them.  Millions of Jews perished and many of those who survived were subject to slavery.  It was a great disaster in history and Judea was changed to Palestine in honor of ancient Israel’s mortal enemy, the Philistines.  Then at the time of Jesus’ public ministry, the emperor had the ownership of all the money and it was evidently shown on each coin.  It all belonged to him.

            Today’s gospel is another episode which reminds us of our obligations – one to God and one to civil authority.  These are like two sides of the coin and better yet a reflection of dual citizenship that we have in a particular country and in God’s kingdom. 

            Our duty and obligation to God boils down to the first and second commandments: to love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength.[4]  And our basic purpose in life, our mission is to become Christ-like; a reflection of God’s love as

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