Caesar’s Authority vs Christ’s Authority
Written by Rev Zheng Biqing
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” Ro 13:1
Last week, we learned that Caesar Augustus was exalted as the saviour of the world. Thus, the arrival of the true Messiah King would pose a significant threat to him. Indeed, a series of power struggles took place immediately following the birth of Jesus: the authority of the rulers of the world against God’s authority.
In the early first century, the Romans viewed Christianity as merely a harmless sect of Judaism. They were not concerned about it (Judaism was a recognised religion at the time). This was why Pilate decided to release Jesus after he found that Jesus’ kingdom was of no threat to Rome (John 18:36). Another example was when Paul was brought to the tribunal by the Jews in Corinth, Gallio who was the then proconsul of Achaia refused to take the case (Ac 18:14). It was not until ~60ad when Christians refused to offer incense to Caesar’s statue nor acknowledge him as lord, that the Roman government began to disassociate Christianity from Judaism and treated it as an unlawful religious movement. To Rome, members of a movement whose founder was charged with sedition were equally guilty of sedition! This was the fiery trial of the early church (1Pe 4:12): to submit to Caser’s authority and call him lord, or to submit to God’s authority and die for Christ? Dear saints, isn’t the same trial facing every Christian today too?
“if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Ro 10:9
In Jesus’ time, people in Galilee paid tax to Herod, while people in Judea paid tax to the Roman emperor, because Judea was governed directly by a Roman governor. The Zealots strongly opposed paying taxes to the Roman emperor, arguing that God is the only king of Israel. Hence, it is a high treason for Israelite residents of the Promised Land to pay taxes to a pagan emperor! The Zealots had the sympathy of the people because they had the people’s liberty from the Romans at heart. This was the backdrop against which the theologically and politically sensitive question “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” was thrown to Jesus when he was ministering in Judea. (Lk 20:22)
Jesus took a Roman coin and said, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (The Roman coin was engraved with the head of Caesar) Dear saints, the Lord is telling us that “see to God what belongs to Him! Make sure first of all God receives the tribute and service that is His due.” (Mat 6: 33) So long as Caesar does not encroach on the reign that belongs to God (Mal 3: 8), and demands only what is his own, then Caesar has a claim on the obedience and submission of Christian citizens. But when Caesar goes beyond the authority God gave him, let Christians be prepared to carry the cross and follow the true Lord Jesus boldly! Do you agree?
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