Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ (Mark 12: 13-15)

I am sometimes inclined to trap Jesus. I want to have him take sides in some earthly controversy.

The Herodians were allies of the Romans. Herod the Great had preserved his kingship through Roman patronage. Herod's sons depended on Roman support. The Romans cultivated local elites as efficient agents of imperial rule.

The Pharisees were religious reformers focused on restoring national independence. To the Pharisees the Herodians had replaced loyalty to God with loyalty to Caeser. The priestly families benefited by playing off the Pharisees and the Herodians (and others).

At the moment Jesus was immensely popular. Any side would welcome his support. Once Jesus had been reduced to a partisan, the religious establishment could depend on others to join them in attacking Jesus. Divide and conquer has a long pedigree.

This was not his fight. This was not his issue. Jesus chose not to choose. Or rather Jesus always chose to focus on God.



Above is a silver denarius featuring the Emperor Tiberius. The face includes the inscription Ti[berivs] Caesar Divi Avg[vsti] F[ilivs] Avgvstvs” or “Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus.”