Submitting to Two Authorities
It is so good to be with you here this week. If you have your Bibles, we’re going to be in Matthew 22. For those who I haven’t had the privilege of meeting yet, my name is Brad. I’m one of the elders and the lead pastor here at The Well. We are enjoying a pretty fascinating series through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we find ourselves in an interesting ambush scripturally.
The Genius and Grip of the Roman Empire
Before we get into the text itself, let me set up just a little bit of history. Even a casual student of history recognizes the significance and impact of the Roman Empire. Whether it was the mythical founding of Rome from the flight of Aeneas after the fall of Troy, or the story of the two brothers Romulus and Remus and the founding of an early city of refugees and asylum seekers, Rome moved through three primary phases in history: the regal period with seven Roman kings, the Republic of Rome that we’ve become familiar with in history books, and then, of course, the shift into the final and most impactful era—the Empire of Rome. Started by Caesar Augustus and running for five hundred years, it was arguably the greatest and most influential empire in the history of the world.
The real genius behind the Roman Empire was not simply their military prowess, though certainly they were incredible in battle—one of the most highly disciplined and effective military forces this world had ever seen. Their true brilliance lay in their infrastructure. Whether it was the network of Roman roads or their means of conquest, their strategy was simple: conquer a region, bring them under their umbrella as a province, and then tax them. In the process, they created an incredible stream of wealth that flowed directly into the empire.
Because of that wealth, Caesar Augustus established what was known as the Pax Romana, the Roman Peace. During this era, not only the people of Rome but also the Roman provinces experienced remarkable security on both land and sea. Pirates were cleared from the Mediterranean, and major enemies were subdued. Cities expanded so rapidly that they grew right past their city walls—there was no longer a need for defensive walls because they had eliminated the threats they once feared.
The economy flourished. Through extensive trade and access across the ancient world, you could purchase perfumes from Egypt, silk from the Orient, sculptures from Greece, and wine from Spain—all circulating freely throughout the Roman economy. There were public libraries, schools, theaters, frescoes, mosaics, and sculptures. The Pax Romana influenced the entire ancient world, and all of it was funded by taxation.
The Roman tax structure was extraordinary. With every people group conquered, Rome inherited not only the spoils of war but another lasting income stream. They had an income tax, a land tax, a wealth tax, and a customs tax levied on ports and roads. (Incidentally, Matthew the tax collector was most likely collecting that customs tax while sitting at the primary trade route outside the city of Capernaum.)
Yet the most important and controversial of all the taxes was the poll tax, sometimes called the head tax. It was an annual tax levied on every adult male in a household, and it was usually tied to a census. That census is famously associated with the birth narrative of Jesus.
Luke 2:1 (NASB)
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
Those censuses were not conducted simply to count heads for demographic curiosity; they were taken so Rome knew exactly how many people to tax. It was deeply controversial for multiple reasons. First, it was a massive hassle for the inhabitants of the Roman world to journey back to their ancestral hometowns. Second, it was expensive. Third, there was an issue with the coinage required to pay the tax, which we will look at shortly.
In Acts chapter 5, there is an interesting interaction where Gamaliel speaks about an earlier revolt that took place around AD 6.
Acts 5:37 (NASB)
’After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away [some] people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.
Gamaliel was speaking of a Jewish uprising sparked by this very poll tax.
The Ambush on the Temple Mount
All of that historical backstory makes Matthew 22:15–22 a far more intriguing ambush. Over the last several weeks, we’ve been looking at Jesus dealing with questions from the religious leaders regarding His authority. After being questioned, Jesus told three specific parables: the parable of the two sons, the parable of the landowner, and the parable of the wedding feast. The core principle of those stories was simple: those who thought they were “in” (the self-righteous religious leaders) were actually “out,” and those who thought they were “out” (the irreligious and outcasts) were coming “in.”
Fresh out of hearing those three parables, the religious leaders make their move.
Matthew 22:15 (NASB)
Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.
The language indicates they didn’t wait until the next day; they stepped aside, huddled up, and called a meeting. Keep in mind, Jesus was teaching on the 36-acre Temple Mount. They went around the corner to conspire on how to trick Him. Then, in verse 16, they didn’t even go themselves—they sent their disciples.
To understand the gravity of this ambush, you have to realize there were three primary religious and political sects in Jewish life:
- The Pharisees were the religious purists and legalists.
- The Herodians were more political than religious; they had aligned themselves with Rome and the local rule of the Herod dynasty.
- The Sadducees were an aristocratic group who enjoyed positions of authority and political influence while adhering strictly to the written Torah, though they denied the resurrection of the dead.
Under normal circumstances, these three groups could not even agree on where to go to lunch, let alone how to settle theological disputes. Yet here they assemble together because “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” They put aside their mutual hatred because they shared one common objective: opposing Jesus.
Because many Pharisees were familiar to Jesus, these cowards sent their young disciples alongside the Herodians. In Luke’s account, it notes that the Pharisees watched Him from afar and sent spies pretending to be righteous in order to catch Him in something He said. This was a full setup.
They begin by buttering Him up in verse 16: “Teacher, we know that You are true and teach the way of God in truth, nor do You care about anyone, for You show no partiality.” It’s like when your kid walks up to you and says, “Daddy, you’re the smartest, most handsome daddy in the whole world.” As a parent, your immediate reaction is: What do you want, or what did you break?
After the flattery comes the trap.
Matthew 22:17 (NASB)
‘Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?’
Given the history of this poll tax, this was a massive question. “Is it lawful to pay the tax? You know—that tax that has been a source of strife for decades? That tax every single Jewish person despises? Is it lawful or not?”
Jesus was placed in an apparent lose-lose situation. If He answered, “Yes, it is lawful,” the Jewish crowds and Pharisees would brand Him a traitor to Israel and seek His death. If He answered, “No, it is unlawful,” the Herodians—who were in bed with Rome—would report Him for insurrection and execute Him. It looked like an airtight trap.
What they failed to account for was that they were dealing with the Son of God, who knows the hearts of all men. They picked a fight with the wrong person.
Matthew 22:18 (NASB)
But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, ’Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
The word hypocrite originally referred to an actor who wore a theatrical mask, pretending to be someone they were not. Jesus calls them out immediately: “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?”
Whose Image Is on the Coin?
Then comes Jesus’ brilliant response.
Matthew 22:19-20 (NASB)
‘Show Me the coin [used] for the poll-tax.’ And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’
They handed Him a Roman denarius. A denarius represented a typical day’s wage for a laborer or soldier. Minted under Emperor Tiberius, this silver coin carried a specific image: on one side was the face of Tiberius, and on the other, Tiberius was shown enthroned in royal robes. Tiberius was one of the emperors who demanded divine honors, claiming to be the son of the divine Augustus.
For a faithful Jew, carrying that coin was deeply contentious. The Ten Commandments explicitly forbade making graven images.
Exodus 20:4 (NASB)
’You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
To carry a coin stamped with the face of a ruler claiming deity was viewed as an idolatrous compromise, as well as a painful reminder of Roman subjugation. When Jesus asked whose inscription was on it, they were forced to state the obvious.
Matthew 22:21 (NASB)
They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.’
Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Notice the word render—it carries the idea of paying back a debt that is already owed. If Caesar’s face is stamped on the silver, give Caesar back his metal. You’re walking on Roman roads, benefiting from Roman commerce, and living under Roman civic order; pay the governing authorities what is due to them.
Jesus was legitimizing taxation, describing civic duty as an expression of obedience to God. He did not say, “Withhold your taxes because the leaders are pagan,” or “Don’t pay because you dislike their policies.” Keep in mind: Jesus was commanding His followers to pay taxes to the very Roman administration that, within a few days, would illegally condemn Him and nail Him to a cross.
Then Jesus turned the mirror on them. He effectively said, “If the coin bears Caesar’s image, give it to Caesar. But whose image is stamped upon you?”
You bear the imago Dei—the image and likeness of Almighty God. Therefore, give your coins to Caesar, but give your very soul, your devotion, and your life to God. Submit to earthly governing authorities in their sphere, and surrender your whole heart to the sovereign Lord.
Matthew 22:22 (NASB)
And hearing [this], they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.
They had no comeback. They wanted Jesus to pick a side in their binary debate: Are you with Rome or against Rome? Is it this or that? Jesus completely refused their false dilemma. He did not think in simplistic binary terms; He approached the matter with divine nuance. Submitting to civic authority and submitting to God are not mutually exclusive. In fact, we submit to earthly authority as an expression of our submission to God.
Navigating Our Current Moment
Let me contextualize this for the moment we find ourselves in today. There is no question that our world feels strange right now. We are living through a global pandemic. Our church gatherings have had to adapt, and we are currently unable to assemble together in person as we normally would. You might be watching this at home in your living room, perhaps with bedhead, running on a treadmill, or sitting in your car. We are practicing social distancing, staying six feet apart, wearing masks, and wearing gloves at the grocery store. Schools are closed. Businesses have been shut down under orders distinguishing between “essential” and “non-essential” services. Many in our community have lost jobs, income, businesses, and stability.
It is easy to feel frustrated. I’ll be honest with you: this season has tested my own patience. I’ve had days with high highs and days with low lows—mornings where I wake up confident, and mornings where I wake up frustrated with a chip on my shoulder. Our elders and pastoral team have spent countless hours praying and wrestling through how we honor God in this moment.
Across the broader church, reactions have varied. Some believers and churches have decided to openly defy governing health restrictions. Others have felt that anyone stepping outside is acting recklessly. So how do we apply Jesus’ words to our lives today? How do we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and render to God what is God’s?
Matthew 22 is not a direct prophetic handbook written specifically for a twenty-first-century pandemic, but the biblical principle holds true: we are called to navigate complex civic realities through faithful submission to God. Consider how the rest of the New Testament unpacks this posture.
Romans 13:1-2 (NASB)
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
When Jesus stood on trial before Pontius Pilate, Pilate boasted of his authority to release or crucify Him. Jesus calmly replied that Pilate would have no authority at all unless it had been given to him from above. Paul echoes that truth here in Romans.
Romans 13:5-7 (NASB)
Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for [rulers] are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Paul instructs believers to pay taxes, respect authority, and live peacefully. Paul gives a similar reminder in his letter to Titus.
Titus 3:1-2 (NASB)
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
Remember the historical context: when Paul wrote Romans and Titus, the Roman Emperor was Nero—a depraved ruler who blamed Christians for the burning of Rome, used believers as human torches for his gardens, and eventually ordered the executions of both Paul and Peter. Even under such an administration, the apostles taught that civil government serves a God-ordained purpose in maintaining public order.
Christianity is not an earthly political revolution. Following Jesus is not about grabbing torches and pitchforks to overthrow the civil state; it is a spiritual revolution against the power of sin, reconciling men and women to God through the cross.
The only exception the New Testament provides for civil disobedience is when governing authorities command us to sin or forbid us from proclaiming the gospel. We see this in the book of Acts when the Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to stop preaching.
Acts 5:29 (NASB)
But Peter and the apostles answered, ’We must obey God rather than men.
When civil rulers command believers to disobey God’s explicit word, we obey God rather than men. But are current temporary public health measures forcing us to sin? No. Is this targeted religious persecution designed to silence the gospel while letting other gatherings proceed? No. The restrictions placed on large indoor public gatherings are aimed at slowing the spread of a virus among the general public.
Some have asked why large retail stores can remain open while church buildings cannot. It is not because retail stores are more valuable than the church; it is simply because the physical nature of how people move through a store is vastly different from sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a room for an hour singing and fellowshipping. As elders, after much prayer and study, we do not believe our religious freedom is being systematically attacked by these public health measures.
1 Peter 2:13-15 (NASB)
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Our current posture is to submit to these public health guidelines out of love for our neighbors and reverence for God. We take this posture seriously because we care for the vulnerable among us—the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those at high risk.
Nuanced Faith and Prayerful Submission
Let me remind you of an essential truth: the church building may be temporarily closed, but the Church has not closed for a single second. The Church is not a physical building; the Church is the redeemed people of God.
Throughout history, whenever external pressures or disruptions arose, the Church didn’t crumble—the gospel advanced. In our own city, while we have paused large Sunday gatherings, our church family has mobilized. Believers are feeding the hungry, caring for foster children, dropping off supplies to the vulnerable, and sharing the hope of Christ across our neighborhoods.
We are actively working on plans to safely resume our in-person gatherings as soon as it is responsible and permissible to do so. In the meantime, how should we respond as followers of Jesus?
First, join me in repenting of grumbling. In full transparency, I have found myself complaining far more than I have spent time on my knees praying. I’ve vented about decisions instead of bringing our leaders before the throne of grace.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NASB)
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Let us pray for our mayor, our city council, our governor, our president, and public health officials. They carry an immense burden and must make difficult decisions in uncharted waters. Pray also for our elders and church leaders as we navigate these days.
We may not agree with every policy, but we trust the God who stands sovereign over every leader. We can live with calm assurance because our ultimate hope does not rest in the statehouse or the courthouse—our hope rests in the Kingdom of God.
Our mission has not changed. Here at The Well Community Church, we exist to help people connect to God and to each other in every neighborhood. We will continue to proclaim the gospel through our words and our deeds, rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and offering our whole lives to God.
Let’s pray together.
Father, we thank You that in the midst of pandemics, disruptions, and uncertain times, You remain entirely sovereign. Lord, grant us wisdom and nuance. Help us to honor You in our civic conduct, submitting to governing authorities with grace while keeping our hearts wholly devoted to You. We pray for our city, state, and national leaders—grant them wisdom and guidance. May the gospel of Jesus Christ shine brightly through Your people across every neighborhood. We place our trust in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.