Monday, August 24 Pay back . . . Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.​—Matt. 22:21.

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Monday, August 24

Pay back . . . Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.—Matt. 22:21.

 

Injustice often inflames political passions. Taxation was a hot political issue in Jesus’ time. Subjects of Rome, including those who listened to Jesus, were required to pay many taxes, such as on goods, land, and houses. And the corruption of the tax collectors increased the sense of being under a heavy burden. Tax collectors might purchase a position of authority at a public auction and then profit from what was collected. Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho, had become rich by extorting money from the people. (Luke 19:2, 8) His course was probably typical of that of many. Jesus’ enemies tried to trap Jesus by getting him to take sides on a taxation issue. The tax in question was the “head tax,” a tax of one denarius levied on Roman subjects. (Matt. 22:16-18) The Jews especially resented this tax. It represented their subjection to Rome. w18.06 5-6 ¶8-10