The Gospel for December 1, 2004 (Nicholas Ferrar)
Luke 20:19-26
And the scribes and the chief priests would have liked to lay hands on him that very moment, because they realised that this parable was aimed at them, but they were afraid of the people. So they awaited their opportunity and sent agents to pose as upright men, and to catch him out in something he might say and so enable them to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. They put to him this question, ‘Master, we know that you say and teach what is right; you favour no one, but teach the way of God in all honesty. Is it permissible for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But he was aware of their cunning and said, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and title are on it?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ He said to them, ‘Well then, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar—and God what belongs to God.’ They were unable to catch him out in anything he had to say in public; they were amazed at his answer and were silenced. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
Jesus had just compared the son of the vineyard's owner (to be interpreted as Jesus, son of Israel's owner=YHWH) to the head of the corner that would crush those who opposed Him. And He had enthralled the crowd around Him so much that the Sanhedrin couldn't get their hands on Him to do away with Him.
And so they sent "agents" to trap him with the question of Caesar's coinage. In those days, any man who had the wherewithal to create coinage and place his image on the coins was the government. If the government provided any services at all, Jesus reasoned, surely to give it back some of its own was an obligation. But He warned them also that what is God's, created with God's image, belongs to God.
And he frustrated the Sanhedrin once again.
A Reflection
Galileans like Jesus were infamous for stirring up trouble for authorities. In particular, the more zealous of them would rebel at the thought of using a coinage minted with an image of a "king," since they asserted that they recognized no authority other than YHWH. So the Sanhedrin thought that they might have found just the recipe for their trap this time.
But like Wiley Coyote to Jesus' Roadrunner, they found themselves once again shown up by Jesus' answer. Everyone in the crowd could sense the trap in the question, and everyone in the crowd must have sensed some justice being dispensed as these religious elite were taken down a peg by the perfect answer to their own cunning question.
It should be a delight and a marvel to all of us that we have weathered the attempted mingling of religion and government for over two hundred years, despite the best efforts of clever people. The government of the United Kingdom has done the same for only a bit longer, despite havinfg to overcome the obstacle of the head of state being constitutionally the head of the state's church; but the UK has achieved essentially the same separation as we possess on this side of the Atlantic.
Yet the most recent presidential election has a loud portion of the religious right wing demanding governmental enforcement of their religious agenda, as a political payment for getting out the votes for the winning party.
For example, they want to outlaw the teaching of sex education (including birth control) in the public schools, reasoning (?) that sex needs to be taught at home. To see the tragic conclusion of that head-in-the-sand belief system, take a look at Africa's population, mortality, and AIDS-related statistics. As a for-instance, a child born in Zimbabwe or Sierra Leone today can look forward to dying (probably from AIDS) before the ripe old age of 36. Yes, thirty-six. The one in Sierra Leone may be lucky enough to be the one in three who can read.
We could also remember the Taliban and the kind of religion they decided would be good for the Afghan people.
That kind of state-imposed "religion" I can do without, thanks.
And in my native state of Alabama, ex-judge Roy Moore wanted the granite-chiseled decalog displayed in the Supreme Court building. As if having an idol to the ten commandments would make the law decided in a more uh.... Jewish way, perhaps?
As a Christian, I have the duty to act as Christ commanded me, and the moral obligation not to impose my will on another. I have the duty to attempt my best to preach the gospel, but to paraphrase William Barclay, no one was ever argued into believing in Jesus.
Jesus trumped Caesar's demands with those of God. The little that Caesar should demand must be limited by our witness of the Holy Spirit in keeping government out of the Church, and the Church out of the government. They can be friends, but never bedmates.
The Collect
Lord God, make us so reflect your perfect love; that, with your deacon Nicholas Ferrar and his household, we may rule ourselves according to your Word, and serve you with our whole heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
6:08:16 PM 
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