It was Caiaphas who called me. Pulled me aside in the temple. “You and followers will go to the one called Jesus. Go as though you are friends. Trap him in blasphemy. Find a reason to accuse him.”
And I happily went.
He stood in the square, teaching. I and the others approached. “Teacher,” I said, “you show yourself a man of God in your instruction. You speak with such authority.”
“Yes.” Said he.
“Teacher. Taxes payable to the emperor. Are they in accordance with the law?”
His eyes settled on mine for a moment. I thought I saw the edge of a smile around their corner as he responded. “Have you a coin?”
I handed him a denarius.
“Look you at the image. Whom do you see?”
“It is the head of the emperor.”
“Then to the emperor it belongs. Give it him. The things that belong to God are what you shall give to God.”
The crowd around us quieted. Around, sighs of relief came to my ears.
And I wondered how so many could take his words. Could not see through his blandishment. Could not see through the lies I saw. And my heart closed against him.
As I turned to walk away, I saw the teacher toss my coin to a poor man. I wondered who he thought the emperor was.
Luke 20:19-26 Morning Prayer
When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. So they asked him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?’ They said, ‘The emperor’s.’ He said to them, ‘Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.
Image: “Tribute Money” by Vecellio Tiziano, via wgu.hu
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