They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. (12:16)
The Pharisees and Herodians’ demand of Jesus’ answer for the question, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” could become a disputing matter whichever answer was given. If Jesus say ‘yes’ then he violate the law and say ‘no’ then the law of Rome. The question was really dirty one to trap other. The people who ask such question are dirty.
Jesus didn’t dispute with them with such matter. When Jesus regarded their hypocrisy he would stop his conversation with them but he didn’t avoid the answer. They tried to make Jesus uncomfortable with a cunning word but Jesus responded straightforwardly. Jesus asked them to bring a denarius. (15)
A denarius equivalent to a day wage of laborer prescribed as the tax currency of Roman Empire. For your reference, Emperor Tiberius (A.D. 14-37) instructed to make three types of denarius in conservative angle. Some of them are found today and a bust of an Emperor crowned with a laurel is carved at a side of the third type silver coin. The word “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the Divine Augustus” depicted on it. The reverse of the coin depicts a queen Libya, the symbol of Pax, a goddess of peace, seated holding a scepter and olive branch. Peace as depicted on this coin symbolizes Tiberius as the preserver of peace in the empire. Denarius was a symbol of power.
In ancient times, money exercises the absolute power and even today. If I’m not wrong all dollar currency contains a phrase, “In God We trust.” Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money.“ But American seems to think it is possible.
The Pharisees and Herodians’ demand of Jesus’ answer for the question, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” could become a disputing matter whichever answer was given. If Jesus say ‘yes’ then he violate the law and say ‘no’ then the law of Rome. The question was really dirty one to trap other. The people who ask such question are dirty.
Jesus didn’t dispute with them with such matter. When Jesus regarded their hypocrisy he would stop his conversation with them but he didn’t avoid the answer. They tried to make Jesus uncomfortable with a cunning word but Jesus responded straightforwardly. Jesus asked them to bring a denarius. (15)
A denarius equivalent to a day wage of laborer prescribed as the tax currency of Roman Empire. For your reference, Emperor Tiberius (A.D. 14-37) instructed to make three types of denarius in conservative angle. Some of them are found today and a bust of an Emperor crowned with a laurel is carved at a side of the third type silver coin. The word “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the Divine Augustus” depicted on it. The reverse of the coin depicts a queen Libya, the symbol of Pax, a goddess of peace, seated holding a scepter and olive branch. Peace as depicted on this coin symbolizes Tiberius as the preserver of peace in the empire. Denarius was a symbol of power.
In ancient times, money exercises the absolute power and even today. If I’m not wrong all dollar currency contains a phrase, “In God We trust.” Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money.“ But American seems to think it is possible.
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