Breaking the Word

Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."  (Mt 22: 15-21)

Pharisees were against Jesus. They joined hands with anyone who would also fight against Jesus. They knew that Jesus was preaching the kingdom and all he said was true. They were trying to trap him to find fault with him. So far all what he said was true and they indirectly agree to what Jesus has taught and has done. There was truth in his speech and there was kindness, mercy, love in his deeds.

Paying tax to Rome would imply that he has taken side with the social force and acknowledged the Roman Empire. The Pharisees totally opposed Romans so also there were groups who opposed the presence of Romans in Israel and they were fighting against them. Since Jesus had not said anything about Romans they thought that he was on their side and hence they wanted him to answer openly and thus trap him.

Jesus’ answer pulled the carpet from under their feet. They did not expect this answer from. Jesus strongly rooted in God and for him God meant everything. Living in the society one cannot deny the society and the social and civil duties. That is why Jesus when prays for the Disciples in the Gospel of John, he would say that they (disciples) are in the world but do not belong to the world.

I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say." (Lk 12:8-12)

Acknowledging Jesus before others was a sign of belonging to Jesus. This open and public acknowledgement was also a proof for being acknowledged in front of God and the angels. Life on earth and the profession of life on earth was needed to face the life before God. We cannot say that the life earth has no link with that of the life with God.

Blasphemies against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. It is said that blasphemies against the Holy Spirit or sin against the Holy Spirit is materialism. Giving importance to the worldly things and material things is the sin. When one values the things of this world and believes that he could manage his life only with those things and lives accordingly sins against the holy Spirit.

Anyone who lives professing Jesus as the Lord and living a life based on the belief and the presence of the Holy Spirit then he does not bother about anything in the world. He does not even go worried about the authorities and the social leaders. He does not need to prepare himself to go to face them.  All what is need will be provided to him.