Proper 24 :: Exodus 32: 12–23; Psalm 99; I
Thessalonians 1: 1–10; Matthew 22: 15–22
This is the homily
by Fr. Gene Tucker that was given at St. John’s, Church, Huntingdon,
Pennsylvania on Sunday, October 22, 2017.
“IMAGO DEI (IMAGE
OF GOD)”
(Homily text: Matthew 22: 15–22)
“Render
unto Caesar.”
This
part of our Gospel text (in an older translation) for today has come to be a
frequent part of our everyday conversation. Of course, what we hear when this
phrase is repeated is the first part of Jesus’ statement (“Render unto Caesar”),
and not the second part (“Render unto God”).
So,
in this homily this morning, let’s consider both parts of Jesus remarkable
answer to the Pharisees, who’d come to Jesus, certain that they had Him backed
into a corner from which there would be no escape.
But
before we do so, let’s examine the scene which is before us this morning.
In
recent weeks, we’ve been hearing one account after another of the encounters
that took place between Jesus and His enemies. Each week, it’s another dispute,
another argument, another challenge that arises as Jesus’ enemies line up
against Him. Those groups are composed of the Sadducees and the chief priests
(the priestly caste), the scribes (the legal scholars of the age), and the
Pharisees (a lay group dedicated to keeping the Law of Moses).
In
this morning’s scenario, the Pharisees have made an alliance with the
Herodians, a group which was aligned with the line of puppet kings that the
Romans had installed. Normally, these two groups would not have been in league
with one another, but – in this instance – the governing rule seems to be “The
enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Each
of these encounters takes place during Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’
earthly life.
And
so, the Pharisees, along with the Herodians, come to Jesus, asking Him a
question that they are certain will land Him in trouble with the Romans: Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Romans? The
Pharisees are certain that this question is a “gotcha”, for if Jesus says it
isn’t lawful to pay taxes to the Romans, then the Pharisees could go to the
governor, Pontius Pilate, and accuse
Jesus of insurrection against Roman rule. But, if He said that it is lawful to
pay taxes, then His standing with the people might be diminished, for many of
the Jews chafed at the idea of paying taxes to the Romans (many of those taxes
supported the Roman army’s occupation of the Holy Land).
Jesus
correctly labels His accusers as “hypocrites”.
For one thing, these Pharisees aren’t the least bit interested in the
matter of paying taxes. Their intent is to catch Jesus in an untenable
position, placing His answer between the authority of Roman rule and His
popularity with the people. For another, these Pharisees hated paying taxes to
the Romans, along with Jews all across the land.
Jesus’
answer is masterful.
“Show
me to coin (used) for the tax,”, He says.
Then,
He says, “Whose likeness[1] is
this?” They answer, “Caesar’s.”
Of
course, we know the rest of Jesus’ response: “Then give (render) to Caesar what
is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
The
Pharisees aren’t really interested in living in the real, everyday world
(represented, in this case, by the need to pay taxes), but they aren’t really
interested in the things of God, either. Rather, what they are interested in is
their own, privileged position in society, and in the strictest observance of
the least little details of the Law of Moses. Their intent in making sure that
no one does anything unlawful on the Sabbath day isn’t to honor God, but to
ensure that Jewish identity is maintained in the face of Roman rule.
So
Jesus’ retort to the Pharisees points in two directions: Toward the requirements of living in the
real, everyday world (as is represented in this case by the matter of
fulfilling one’s obligations to the civil authorities[2]), but also toward seeing the face of God.
This
last point brings us to the requirement that Christians have to be the link
that brings the image of God into the real, everyday world. That’s what we are
about this morning as we have gathered for worship. We gather to hear God’s
word read and preached, we gather to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion
(in order that we may be strengthened and encouraged to live out our
relationship with God through Christ in the world), and then we are sent out
into the world, bearing the image of God to all who will come into our life’s
pathway.
This
morning, young Lincoln John Devore is being baptized. When he enters the waters
of baptism, we will acknowledge that he is a child of God. His parents and
Godparents will make solemn promises before God that they will bring him up to
come to know the Lord personally. As time goes along, all of us – his parents,
Godparents and this congregation – will work to be sure that he discovers what
it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to be a bearer of God’s image in the world.
For
all of us who have entered the waters of baptism are called to see the image,
the face, of God, and then to turn around and bear that image, that face, of
God to the world around us.
In so
doing, we will give to God the honor due His name, and we will give to the
world the fruits of that encounter.
May
the Holy Spirit enable and strengthen us to see God clearly, and to reflect
that vision to the world.
AMEN.
[1] The word used here in the Greek is the same
word that has come down to us in English as “icon”. It means “image”.
[2] St. Paul will pick up this theme, writing in
Romans 13: 7 that Christians are to pay taxes to whom taxes are due, and to pay
revenue to whom revenue is due, and to pay honor to whom honor is due.
