Tag Archives: disobedience

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Pay Tax Unto Who?

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Mark 13:17 – March 22, 2026

“Pay Tax Unto Who?”

            If you have lived in Chicago for any length of time, you probably know how much many people around here are involved with politics.

My mother, God rest her soul, was a volunteer for the League of Women Voters. She wanted to get as many people involved in the political process as possible. Even though politics was sometimes crooked, and sometimes politicians played dirty, still – my mother had great integrity, and she wanted to get as many people involved in voting and in democracy as possible.   

            The people of the first century did not have that option. The Roman Empire had all the power at that time, and Rome was certainly not a democracy. The Jewish people were under the heel of Roman occupation, and every Jew knew it. Plus, like any large bureaucracy, the people who worked for the Roman empire and the Roman occupation had its bad apples and crooked employees. Just like many political bureaucracies throughout the centuries.

Sure, the Roman empire had its governors, and its tax collectors, and most importantly its garrisons of Roman soldiers to make sure everything in the provinces was kept in order. And, a very large part of that order was convincing the local population to pay taxes to Rome. Which is where our narrative begins: two separate factions of Jews are both trying to catch the Rabbi Jesus in a big boo-boo. Something that would get the Rabbi Jesus in big trouble with the Roman authorities. These two groups – factions – opposing teams, if you want to think of them that way – are the Pharisees and the Herodians.

These two groups or factions are not friendly with each other at all. However, both of these groups want to discredit Jesus! They want to make the Rabbi Jesus look bad, and if possible, get Him in trouble with the Roman authorities!  

            Let’s take a look at what the Gospel of Mark says. The Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday has just happened. Jesus has entered the City of Jerusalem, and the stakes are higher than ever. Let’s listen to how Mark sets up this interaction:         

“They sent some of the Pharisees and some supporters of Herod to trap him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, ’“Teacher, we know that you’re genuine and you don’t worry about what people think. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay taxes or not?’”

            I want everyone to be sure we all understand. The Pharisees are the ultimate, strict rule-keepers. They not only keep every rule or Law in the Mosaic Law Code themselves, but they are ready and eager to shake their fingers at any Jew who does not keep all of the rules! And then, we have the supporters or followers of Herod. Some translations call them Herodians. These are more secular Jews, more lax in the rule-following department.

Let’s hear what these two groups ask Jesus, again: ’“Teacher, we know that you’re genuine and you don’t worry about what people think. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay taxes or not?’”

“So, here are two parties whose only point of agreement is their fear and hatred of Jesus. The Pharisees object to the tax on religious grounds. The Herodians support it on political grounds.” [1] And, both factions wanted to get the Rabbi Jesus in big trouble!

This seemingly straight-forward question is a trap! If Jesus answers, “Yes! We all must pay our taxes.” Then, the strict rule-following Pharisees will be mad at Him for putting something before God, who is over all! However, if Jesus answers, “No! We can’t pay taxes to an outside, foreign and pagan government!” Well, then, the Roman empire and occupation will come down hard on the Rabbi Jesus for fomenting radical and treasonous activity! Telling people not to pay taxes? Lock up this upstart Rabbi! He’s preaching rebellion and civil disobedience!

            As is so often the case in dealing with suspicious or downright angry groups of people, our Lord Jesus has great finesse. He is able to read the room. And actually, our Lord is helped by His Godly ability to discern the intentions of people’s hearts.

Listen to what Mark says in the follow-up to this question: “Since Jesus recognized their deceit, he said to them, ‘Why are you testing me? Bring me a coin. Show it to me.’ 16 And they brought one. He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. 17 Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ His reply left them overcome with wonder.”

            So many times, these responses of Jesus are absolutely on the money! (see what I did there?) Seriously, these responses of Jesus are so on the mark, they absolutely flabbergast the people interrogating Jesus.

            As the Rev. Alyce McKenzie says, “The trouble is that we want blueprints and prescriptions. We want someone to tell us what to do and think. To know that Jesus is still available, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, to guide us in evaluating our own and others’ motives and making decisions about our allegiances and priorities may not be specific enough for our tastes.” [2]

            This whole subject of taxes is a matter of jurisdiction. We see the coin, and can hold a depiction of Caesar. Caesar clearly has staked out his realm in this visible world. However, God’s realm is very different. I hope many people do not criticize me for turning all touchy-feely, but that is exactly what Jesus is saying repeatedly in His description of the Realm of God. He does not give a definition of the Kingdom or Realm of God right here in this particular reading from Mark, but Jesus certainly does in other parts of Mark chapter 12!

Let us go a bit further down in Mark 12, to verses 28-34. This is where the Rabbi Jesus tells everyone which the most important feature of the Kingdom – the Realm of God. Jesus tells us what is the Greatest Commandment in the Law of Moses. Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s it. That is all. Love God, first and foremost, and love your neighbor – any neighbor, near or far, of any nationality, any language spoken, any faith tradition, any other similarity or difference – love your neighbor as yourself. Period. That commandment encompasses the Law and the Prophets. That is rendering to God what is God’s. 

The issues of today may be weighty, indeed. Plus, we all can hold up the heavenly values we see our Lord Jesus consistently live. “We all can look for God’s work beyond our community, and the places we normally expect God to be. We can call each other back to God’s word and promise and charge that we are each made in God’s own image and likeness and are therefore called to live in a way that others may detect the family resemblance.” [3]

Could we consider our situation in the modern day? Instead of squabbling about nonessentials, with some television preacher or self-help book telling us all what to do or think, what blueprint to follow or which prescription to take, why don’t we all consider loving God, and loving our neighbor. Period.

That’s the way to follow Jesus. Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2011/10/state-vs-god-alyce-mckenzie-10-10-2011  

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.davidlose.net/2017/10/pentecost-20-a-image-likeness-and-identity/

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God’s Selective Memory

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“God’s Selective Memory”

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (31:34) – March 21, 2021

            One of my favorite Bible commentators – David Lose – attended a large family reunion about ten years ago. One of his cousins brought greetings from her father, David’s favorite uncle. Except – David’s uncle had dementia and was unable to attend the reunion. So, the elder man sent poignant, moving greetings to the gathered relatives: “Tell my family that, although I do not remember them, I still love them.” [1]

            This reminds me strongly of verse 34 from our Bible reading from Jeremiah: “I will forgive Israel’s sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the Lord, have spoken.” But, just a moment! The Lord – God Almighty, creator of the universe – says God will no longer remember Israel’s sins. Hold it! Does that mean that the Lord gets a huge case of amnesia?  

            We need to go further into the background of our Bible reading for today. The prophet reaches back into the past, into the time of the Covenant made at Mount Sinai – the covenant of the Ten Commandments, and the covenant inscribed by circumcision. That covenant was more of a transaction, intentional and holding by a sense of obligation.

            Do you know anyone who has a relationship built on obligation? Where things are built on transactions? I am thinking of someone I’ve known for a long time. Our relationship is very much a transaction. Quid pro quo. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours – and that’s all.

            There is no real joy in any relationship like this because of the give-and-take nature of the association. You don’t have friends, but simply contacts. If everything is based on dollars and cents, or on what an interaction is worth, or what you can squeeze out of the connection, the resulting relationship is not very joy-filled or full of life. Can you imagine a relationship with God being like that? Where a sober-faced angel in charge of Heavenly Accounts sits at a celestial desk, a number 2 pencil behind one ear, adding up the personal debits and credits each person accrued on some heavenly adding machine? Where would the joy be in that kind of life, where you constantly had to watch your p’s and q’s, lest you might be zapped by God’s lightning bolts?

            Many considered this the life based on the Mosaic Covenant, headed up by the Ten Commandments and continuing with 600 some laws in the Mosaic rule book. That “covenant was conditional and transactional, as stated bluntly in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. Both texts promise protection and blessing as the consequence of obedience, but judgment and ultimately exile as the consequence of disobedience.” [2] For some, this can be a particularly joy-less and somber transaction-filled life.

            We can see the main reason the people of Israel were taken out of the land and sent into exile: because the people broke the Covenant and the Mosaic laws time after time. That’s the big reason for the exile to Babylon. The book of Jeremiah prophecies to the returning Jews, coming back to the land of the Promise. The prophet mentions another Covenant – the New Covenant. The Mosaic and the Abrahamic Covenants did not work as well as everyone hoped.

            The prophet specifically says this new one is not like the old Covenant made at Mount Sinai, with Moses. But, different HOW?

            I can just imagine the prophet writing about the Lord, who gets frustrated and upset about the people of Israel forgetting about God’s mercy and lovingkindness yet again! And then, Israel ignoring God’s positive commands to come before God’s presence with offerings and singing, on a regular basis. Can you just imagine the Lord, doing a heavenly facepalm? “Oh, no! Good grief, I can’t believe you all are doing this over and over again?”

            Yet, just as David Lose reflected, this reading clearly describes the New Covenant, and “God’s intention to take the matter of Israel’s relationship with God fully into God’s own hands.” [3] The Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth put it this way: “‘I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts’ (Jeremiah 31:33). It is the very heart of us, the seat of each of us as emotional beings that God wants to be near! Not the part that is obligated, or the part of us that grudgingly follows the rules.

Yes, David Lose has bittersweet memories; he can remember a beloved uncle with a quick wit, and deep and generous wisdom, slowly sliding into dementia – which is very scary. But, right here in this reading from chapter 34, God says that God forgets. Could it be that God has forgotten our sins? Your sins and mine? Or, is that too much to hope for?

The nation of Israel can’t forget what it’s like to NOT trust God. They can’t forget running to other gods and idols and customs their more powerful neighbors held. And most of all, Israel can’t forget their inexcusable pattern of faithlessness. Is it any wonder that Israel seems hopeless and helpless in the face of forgetting? Or, perhaps, not forgetting?  

            “And so God does what Israel cannot: God forgets. In response to their failure, God refuses to recognize it. In response to their infidelity, God calls them faithful. In response to their sin and brokenness and very real wretchedness, God’s memory has to be pushed and prodded to find any recollection. God forgets.” [4]

            That is truly a blessing for those of us who sin on a regular basis – that is, ALL of us. Thanks be to God that God lovingly chooses to forget our sins. And as Psalm 103 tells us, as far as the east is from the west, so far does the Lord remove our sins from us. Praise God! Thank You, Jesus. Amen, amen.

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/love-and-memory

“Love and Memory,” David Lose, Dear Working Preacher, 2012.

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fifth-sunday-in-lent-2/commentary-on-jeremiah-3131-34-17

[3] Lose, David, ibid.

[4] Ibid.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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Into the Wilderness

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Matthew 4:1-11 – March 5, 2017

jesus-temptation-wilderness

“Into the Wilderness”

Have you ever overheard a conversation at a restaurant where someone was absolutely raving about the food served? About how delicious it was, how well seasoned, or well prepared? The magnificent desserts, or the fantastic dishes? “Out of this world!” or, “It’s to die for!” I’ve even heard a few people say, “That was positively sinful!”

Enjoying our creature comforts so much, we are not able to focus on anything else. Not able to focus on each other, and reaching out to the needy, sick and hungry. Not able to focus on God, either, much less worship God’s name regularly.

Let’s go back to the beginning. Yes, back to the very beginning, the book of Genesis. Eileen just read for us several verses from chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis, where Adam and Eve are tempted by the Devil.

We find out that the garden from Genesis has everything a person could want—except for one thing. There is one prohibition: a tree in the middle of the garden. Adam and Eve already have been told never to eat from that tree. Never, ever, ever eat from that specific tree. (Or they—we—shall surely die.)

We all know the story. The Tempter comes to Eve in the form of a snake, plants doubt in her mind, and convinces her to eat the fruit of the tree. What’s more, she gives some to Adam and he eats. And because of this sin, this disobedience, Adam and Eve have to leave the Garden of Eden.

What got in the way between Adam and Eve, and God? Adam and Eve said “Yes” to the serpent. In saying “Yes” to the snake, they found themselves saying “No” to God. They renounced the God who created them, who loved them, and who gave them all things. And, they were sent into the wilderness.

In our Gospel reading this morning, we find Jesus led out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. For forty days Jesus fasts and prays, away by Himself, in the wilderness. Jesus was preparing Himself for His time of ministry ahead, as well. At the end of this time, the tempter comes to a weakened, depleted Jesus, and tempts Him. The devil tempts Jesus with food, with control, and with power. The devil very much wanted to get Jesus to say “Yes” to him, to say “Yes” to at least one of the temptations he brought to Jesus.

At the beginning of each Lenten season, each year, the lectionary readings begin with the Gospel reading of Jesus and the temptation. The devil tries very hard to get Jesus to say “Yes” to him and the phony, flashy, fake things he offers. And by saying “Yes” to the devil, Jesus would end up saying “No” to God. The devil wanted to get Jesus to renounce His heavenly Father.

The period of Lent as a time of fasting, penitence and self-examination was followed early on, in the church’s history. The Church Council of Nicaea in 325 discussed a 40-day period of Lent, but did not get that period codified at that point.

What was a common practice by that time was an extended period for people intending to prepare themselves for baptism on Easter Day. Yes, this did include fasting, penitence and self-examination, along with learning the catechism of the Church.

The rest of the congregation did not take it easy during this 40-day period. They had to fast, be penitent, and examine themselves, too. We still do this today, remembering Jesus and His time of fasting and penitence in the wilderness just before He began His ministry. A time when He renounced the devil and all his works and all his ways.

Renounce. Renounce what? This is a confusing term, for some. But—what gets in the way between us and God? What tempts us to turn from God and the good things God wants for each of us?  What does it mean for us to follow after Jesus, and to renounce the devil?

The first temptation was that of hunger. The devil tempted Jesus with bread. (And, not just physical hunger.) “It is about all of those things that we use in an attempt to fill ourselves up, to satisfy our many hungers. We have a problem with excess.  We eat too much.  We drink too much.  We buy too much.  We spend too much.  We have too much.” [1]

Augustine, that great saint of the Church, said there was a God-shaped hole inside of each of us. We try to fill that empty hole, that void, with all kinds of things. Both physical as well as spiritual.  “And the food and clothes and jewels, all the drugs and alcohol and sex and movies and vacations and entertainment and money and toys in the world, aren’t going to be enough to fill up that empty space inside us.” [2]

The second and third temptations are all about control and power. And, putting God to the test. Do we try to take control of our own lives? Or, how about micro-managing everyone around us? Do you know anyone who willfully, stubbornly goes off on their own, whose theme song is “My Way” by Frank Sinatra? Not following God, not putting themselves into God’s caring, loving hands. Perhaps making bargains with God?

The commentator says this week, “Do we worship our lifestyle? The (fill in your nationality) way? Military power? Economic domination? The rich and the famous? Football or [baseball or hockey or] other sports? The almighty dollar?” [3] What do we need to renounce in order to come back into a close, loving relationship with God?

We can take for our example how Jesus responded to the devil. Three different temptations, and three times Jesus responded with the Word of God.  

Do we remember baptism? Not necessarily our own baptisms, but the more recent baptisms that have happened here. Several months ago, I baptized Claire. Part of the liturgy for that service includes several questions. The pastor says the words “Will you encourage this child to renounce the powers of the devil, his works and ways, and to receive the power of new life in Christ?” The parents and the sponsors respond, “We will, with the help of God.”

It doesn’t matter where we are, we have promised, on our behalf or on our children’s, to encourage ourselves or our loved ones to renounce the devil. With the help of God, we will say “No” to the devil. It says so, right here in the service of baptism. That is exactly what Jesus did, at His temptation, and we’re encouraged to say “No,” too!

It can be as simple and straightforward as saying “No” to the tempter, to his works and ways, and saying “Yes” to God. Turning our backs on the tempting things that beckon to us, lure us in, and instead, following after Jesus.

Whether having to do with our bodies, desires, excess, addiction, power, control; in deserts, gardens, the country, cities, mountains—wherever we find ourselves, we need to consider renouncing the devil. Refusing to follow after the devil’s pied piper flute.  Lent is not just giving up chocolate or sweets, or meat on Fridays, but this is a special time to follow Jesus, to examine ourselves, and to learn and practice the works and ways of God.

Whether we are in the wilderness or not, I encourage all of us to follow after Jesus. Say “Yes” to God, and “No” to the devil and the seductive power of evil. And, God will be with us, in the wilderness, on the mountain, in the cities, wherever we are. Thank God! Amen.
[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship/lectionary-calendar/first-sunday-in-lent7#preaching

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my regular blog for 2017: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and my other blog,  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!)

(Thanks so much to the good folks at UMC Discipleship.org! I am following their Lenten series. Their online Lenten sermon notes and worship helps are invaluable.)