There are several new testament verses that are quoted out of context by alleged government authorities and false churches in order to deceive people into believing that they should support their man-made governments and obey their man-made law. This, however, is not the case, as God has never given His people authority to make their own law or to walk in the statutes of men.
Therefore, a more detailed look is necessary regarding these scriptures so that the deception can clearly be seen. One verse that is relentlessly quoted is "...render unto Caesar!". Jesus was totally aware of God's Law, and we can be sure that he was not telling the teachers of the law to do contrary to God's Law. Let's see just exactly what Jesus meant by "the things which are Caesar's" when he said: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's"
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. They were the teachers of the Law, and knew full well what God's word says about laws and governments other than God's. The Pharisees knew ALL of the following:
They knew that even their own Israelite kings could not make any law, but could only administer God's Law, not Turing aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left:
[Deut 17:14][The word of the Lord through his servant Moses]: When thou [Israel] art come unto the land which the LORD thy God gives thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
[Deut 17:18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [17:19] and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: [17:20] That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand. Or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Not adding to it, or diminishing from it:
[Deut 12:32] What thing soever I command you [all Israel], observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
The Pharisees knew that it was a sin to walk in the statutes of the heathen, and that if their OWN ISRAELITE KINGS made any statutes, it was a SIN to walk in their statutes as well:
[2Ki 17:6] In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. [17:7] for so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, [17:8] And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. [2Ki 17:18] Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. [17:19] Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
The Pharisees knew that God's people have laws that are different from all other people's [God's Laws] and that even in foreign lands they do not keep the king's laws:
[Est 3:8] Then Haman [the highest prince in the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians] said to King Hauser's [the king of the Medes and the Persians who reigned from India to Ethiopia], "There is a certain people [The Jews; Judeans who were obedient to God's Law] scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. . ."
The Pharisees knew the principle that consenting with a thief, be he king or commoner, makes one a partaker with that thief and an apostate:
[Ps 50:18] When thou sawest a thief then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Adulterers Strong's reference number: 5003 Hebrew: na'aph
Definition: to commit adultery; fig. to apostatize
The Pharisees knew that those who participate in evil through the use of an agent are guilty of the act themselves:
[2Sa 11:14] And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab [his agent], and sent it by the hand of Uriah. [11:15] And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. [11:16] And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. [11:17] And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
[2Sa 11:26] And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. [11:27] And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
[2Sa 12:9] [Then Nathan said to David] Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, [through the use of an agent] and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Therefore, by the same principle, the Pharisees knew that participating in a heathen government by financing someone else [an agent] to enforce heathen laws makes the one who pays the tribute guilty of the acts of the heathen government. The Pharisees knew that those who are obedient to God will not pay toll, tribute, and custom to a heathen king ["Caesar"]:
[Ezr 4:6] Now in the reign of Ahasuerus [a heathen king ("Caesar")], in the beginning of his reign, they [the king's people through their agents, the counselors] wrote an accusation [to the king] against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. [saying the following:][4:12] Let it be known to the king that the Jews [who obey God's law, not the king's law] who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, [from the king]s point of view only; righteous and obedient from God's point of view] and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. [4:13] Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king's treasury will be diminished. [They will pay no tribute to "Caesar"]. [NKJ]
[4:16] We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion [no tribute to "Caesar"] on this side the river. [KJV]
The Pharisees knew that the throne of iniquity cannot have fellowship with God:
[Ps 94:20] Shall the throne of iniquity [wicked rulers] have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? [make enactments or decrees which condemn innocent blood by adding to or diminishing from God's Law]
The Pharisees knew that the people in whose heart is God's law are to obey His Law and are not to fear the reproach of men:
[Is 51:7] Hearken unto me [the Lord], ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
[Is 51:12] I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass...
The Pharisees knew God's admonition about doing after the manners of the heathen:
[Eze 11:10] Ye [Israel] shall fall by the sword; I [the Lord] will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
[Eze 11:12] And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in My statutes, neither executed My judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
Note: The Hebrew word translated to "manners" speaks specifically of governmental and judicial activity. Here, Ezekiel is not speaking of "ways or customs" of the heathen, he is speaking about the "statutes, ordinances, judgments, laws and government" of the heathen.
Manners Strong's reference number: 4941
Hebrew: mishpat
Derivation: Derived from 8199
Definition: prop. a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, espec. A sentence or formal decree (human or [partic.] divine law, individual or collect.) include. The act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstr. justice, include. right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
Manners Strong's reference number: 8199
Hebrew: shaphat
Derivation: A primary word.
Definition: to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); impl. vindicate or punish; by extens. To govern; pass. To litigate (lit. or fig.)
The Pharisees know that God's people do not obey wicked governments that have other gods even if they are thrown into a fiery furnace:
[Dan 3:16] Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. [3:17] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will resue us from your hand, O king. [3:18] But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." [NIV]
[3:19] Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Therefore he spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. [3:20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. [NKJ]
The Pharisees knew that God's people do not obey wicked governments even if they are thrown into a lion's den:
[Dan 6:7] All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. [Dan 6:10] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. [Dan 6:16] Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. . .
The Pharisees knew that those who have set up kings and princes [governments]but not by God's hand, have trespassed against His law:
[Hos 4:1] [The word of the LORD through the prophet Hosea]: Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
[Hos 8:1] Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He [the enemy] shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they [Israel] have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against My law.
[Hos 8:4] They have set up kings, but not by Me: they have made princes, and I [the Lord] knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
The Pharisees know that it is a sin to keep statutes made by Israelite kings, let alone a heathen "Caesar":
[Mic 6:13] [The warning of the Lord through His servant Micah]: Therefore also will I [the Lord] make thee [Israel] sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of they sins.
[Mic 6:16] For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab [kings of Israel who made their own statutes], and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of My people.
The Pharisees were fully aware that God only allowed "Caesar" to be in power to prove Israel to see whether they would keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not:
[Jdg 2:21] I [the Lord] also will not henceforth drive out any from before them [Israel] of the nations [heathen Caesars, etc.] which Joshua left [unvanquished] when he died: [2:22] That through them [the heathen governments] I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
[Jdg 3:4] and they [the nations which the LORD left] were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they [Israel] would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
And the Pharisees were aware of the conclusion of the whole matter:
[Ecc 12:13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Therefore, knowing all of the above scriptures, the Pharisees laid a trap for Jesus similar to the question: "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" They were certain that they could trap Jesus into affirming that either: it was lawful to pay tribute to "Caesar", which they knew to be against God's Law, and thereby condemning Him under God's Law to pay tribute to a heathen government [Caesar], thereby condemning Him under "Caesar's" "law". Then the Pharisees could go tell "Caesar", and thereby get rid of Jesus with the sword of Caesar:
[Mat 22:17] [The Pharisees sent their disciples to Jesus, who said,] Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Jesus was also versed in the above scriptures. He was fully aware that it is against God's Law to give tribute to a heathen "Caesar". He also knew that it would enrage "Caesar" for Him to say so. Jesus knew that giving the correct answer was a trap laid for Him by the Pharisees, and He evaded their trap by the following: He didn't define what was or was not "Caesar's". He didn't even affirm that the penny with "Caesar's" image and superscription was to be rendered to "Caesar". Jesus' answer was that the Pharisees should render to "Caesar", a heathen who did not know or obey God's Law, exactly what was due to any heathen or Israelite who did not obey God's Law:
[Num 15:15] One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation [of Israel], and also for the stranger [foreigner; non Israelite] that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. [15:16] One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. (i.e.: death for breaking God's Law: [Deu 27:26] Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law [God's Law, not Caesar's law] to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.)
Therefore, the Pharisees knew that what they had just been told was to render unto "Caesar" what God's Law required: death, and since they were declining to carry out the sentence of the law, they were hypocrites, since they were the enforcement officials of God's Law and knew what "Caesar" was due under God's Law. They had also been told that they were doing presumptuously by not harkening to carry out the sentence of the law and they themselves should be put to death along with "Caesar" in order to put their own evil away from Israel:
[Deu 17:11] According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. [17:12] And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, [and render unto Caesar what Caesar was due, death in this particular case] even that man shall die [the Pharisees, for not carrying out the sentence in this particular case]: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
This is obviously why the Pharisees marveled at Him. They were not about to tell "Caesar" that God's Law required him to be put to death, because "Caesar" would have then come after the Pharisees. In addition, Jesus had just rebuked both "Caesar" and the Pharisees by stating publicly that both "Caesar" and the Pharisees should be put to death, and the Pharisees who hated Jesus knew it but couldn't go tell "Caesar" in order to get Jesus in trouble. Also, "Caesar" and his agents didn't know enough about God's Law to realize that Jesus said that "Caesar" should be put to death, and "Caesar" thinks to this very day that Jesus was saying to pay tribute. Checkmate. Jesus will, incidentally, render to "Caesar" what is "Caesar's" at His coming:
[Luk 19:27] [Jesus, speaking of Himself in a parable said,] but those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them [kings, "Caesars", judges of the earth and their followers at His coming], bring hither, and slay them before Me.
[Pas 2:7] [The psalmist foretelling that Jesus will "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" at His coming]: I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art my Son [Jesus]; this day have I begotten thee.
[2:9] Thou [Jesus] shalt break them [the heathen kings (Caesars) and judges] with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. [2:10] Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: ["Caesars"] be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [Note: These verses in Psalm 2 are confirmed to be about Jesus in Acts 13:33; Heb 1:1-5; Heb 5:5, and by Jesus Himself in Rev 2:26-27].
[Zec 14:9] [Zechariah prophesying that Jesus will "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" at His coming]: And the LORD [Jesus] shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one.
[14:12] And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD [Jesus] will smite all the people [kings, "Caesars", judges of the earth and all who follow them] that have fought against Jerusalem [Jesus' capital city when He comes with His saints]; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. [Note: These verses can be seen to be about Jesus in Mat 25:31-32; Mat 28:18; Joh 18:37; 1Ti 6:13-15; Rev 11:15; Rev 19:14; Rev 20:4-6].
Continuing with Jesus' answer to the Pharisees:
[Mat 22:18] But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? [22:19] Shew Me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. [22:20] And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? [22:21] They say unto Him, Caesar's. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.
[Mar 12:14] And when they [certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians] were come, they say unto Him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? [12:15] Shall we give, or shall we not give? But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye Me? Bring Me a penny, that I may see it. [12:16] and they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto Him, Caesar's [12:17] and Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at Him.
[Luke 20:22] [The chief priests and scribes asked Jesus,] Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? [20:23] but He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye Me? [20:24] shew Me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. [20:25] and He said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
From that day forward, the Pharisees and the Sadducees would not ask Jesus any further questions:
[Mat 22:46] And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore. [NKJ]
[Luke 20:39] Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well." [20:40] but after that they dared not question Him anymore. [NKJ]
The Roman Tribute Coin
5. Tiberius; 14 - 37 A.D.; AR denarius; the "Tribute Penny" of the Bible.
The Temple priests, testing Jesus, asked Him: "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar , or not? But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye Me? Bring Me a penny (denarius) that I may see it. And they brought it. And He said unto them, Whose is this image and inscription? And they said unto Him, Caesar's. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." (Mark 12:14-17).
Obv: Laureate head of Tiberius, r. Rev: Livia, as Pax, seated on the reverse.
click on the above image to enlarge
The account of the Tribute to Caesar is more extensively covered in Matthew, chapter 22. In this account, and others, the bible clearly shows that as soon as the Herodians understood the answer that they received, they marveled at the answer, and went on their way. After that time, they ceased to question Him any more.
When you research out the origin and lineage of the term "Pontifus Maximus", you find the Babylonian origin. Essentially, it is saying that "Caesar is God." This title was later adopted by the Roman Popes.
When one understands that the answer was given under Hebrew law, then they understand that the same fate awaits all who pay the tribute to Caesar that God will mete out for Caesar, then we can see that Jesus was clearly saying, "Do not pay taxes unto Caesar", as was alleged at His trial.
See also: First Samuel 8:7-19; Revelation 18:3-4
Comments on this posting from a "fellowcitizen of the commonwealth of Yisra'el"
We humbly disagree with this author's assessment of the Render Unto Caesar verses of the Scripture.
Here is just one example of where that author misspoke (and we have found others).
He or she stated, rather emphatically, �He didn't define what was or was not "Caesar's".
The Scripture says otherwise.
And he [yod he waw shiyn waw 'ayin] saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Those hypocrites� answer to his very precisely worded question will establish specifically what is the caesar�s. The Master does not ask them, �Whose coin is this or whose silver is this?� and his intentional omission will, by the words of their own mouths, establish whose silver it is, thus separating the fiction from the substance. Caesar, a fiction itself, cannot create substance�only fictions�kind after kind�as it is written. So what was their answer to, �Whose is this image and superscription?�
They say unto him, Caesar's.
Since �They� (two or more witnesses) answered, Caesar's, the Master has now succinctly established that the image and superscription [fiction] belong to [the] Caesar, and this unquestionably does not include the silver [substance] from which the coin was made, for it is written, �The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says Jehovah of Hosts. (LITV*)� The fiction is made apparent when we render unto Yahweh what is Yahweh's; for when we render the silver [the substance] unto Yahweh [the] caesar's (commander-in-chief's) image and superscription do not exist!
We find it curious that this, apparently learned author, did not go with the witness of two or three, as we are instructed to do in The Book of the Law, but rather he or she instead quoted the one (which is different than the other two). Here are the three witnesses, for your edification; you tell us which one is different and what impact this slight variation has on the outcome.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's.
Mar 12:16 �And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
Luk 20:24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
We thank you, in the name of our King, for your time.
May Yahweh bless all His citizens with eyes that perceive, ears that understand and contrite and humble hearts. amein
