Taxes in Jesus’ time were more of a ‘’tribute’’ , a payment to the conqueror on the part of the conquered. The money went to Rome to be used by Romans as they wished. There were no social services, no accountability. The Roman bureaucracy spent the money where it wished. Nationalistic Jews saw the payment of these taxes as an offence to Israel. On the other hand, the Romans, their supporters or those who simply feared their power saw refusal to pay as inciting rebellion.

So when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees and the Herodians about the lawfulness of paying the census tax to the Roman emperor, he was actually being led into a trap. Either yes or no would make him an enemy of Rome or of his oppressed people. Jesus’ sharp response, ‘’Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God’’ has the tone of righteous indignation. He knows that the Pharisees ask him with malicious intent. They first praise him as a truthful man only to lay a trap for him. The issue is not really the payment of taxes but their hypocrisy. They use religion to destroy Jesus.

Deep human relationship, whether in friendship, marriage, or any form of commitment, is sustained by goodwill and honesty. People who are transparent are true to their words; they do not praise others for their own advantage. People may not always agree with them but will always trust them. A hypocrite does not give to God what belongs to God, for God wants a sincere heart. Only an upright heart, only he who does not regard a person’s status, pleases God.