Then the P'rushim went away and put together a plan to trap Yeshua with his own words. They sent him some of their talmatim and some members of Herod's party. They said, "Rabbi, we know that you tell the truth and really teach what G-d's way is. You aren't concerned with what other people think about you, since you pay no attention to a person;s status. So tell is your opinion: does the Torah permit paying taxes to the Roman Emperor or not?"
Yeshua, however, knowing their malicious intent, said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used to pay the tax!" They brought him a denarius; and he asked them, "Whose name and picture are these?
"The Emperor's," they replied.
Yeshua said to them, "Nu, give the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, And give to G-d what belngs to G-d". On hearing this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
We have seen the cohanim made an example of into he past few episodes of the Holy week. They had been coming to religion and faith with the idea that they had it together, and they were right. The looked down on other people who were not as holy as they percieved themselves. But in their understanding that they are right with G-d, they reveal that they are not. Its a bitter and scary irony that must be looked at; what truth this concept reveals must be applied by believers to their own lives constantly. If, at any point, a man things himself worthy of religion, his faith is no longer in G-d but in himself. Belief that one is good enough is a damning belief, because from the eyes of a holy G-d nothing in ones self is even remotely good, let alone worthy of salvation.
With their pride shattered, the best of the cohanim, the P'rushim, send their students to Yeshua, to try and make him say something to get him in trouble. This, from a logical standpoint, is the first of several ad hominem attacks, simply to justify a personal hatred against HMeshiah.
Questions can tell you a lot about a person, what their motives are, as well as views of the situation. Questions can reveal an askers agenda. Here in the New Testament, religious people, who, by the standards of the day, where upright and devout to what they believed. The questions they ask Yeshua reveal their views and understanding of His purpose, mission, and goals.
The people who question Yeshua are P’rushim, as well as members of Herod’s party. The approach him at first with flattery, “Rabbai, we know you tell the truth and really teach what G-d’s way is. You aren’t concerned with what other people think about you, since you pay no attention to a person’s status.” This flattery, by definition, is simply something these men say to his face that they would not say behind his back in order to elicit a response. It's the reverse of gossip.
Yeshua's answer is amazing and astonishing, as the scripture says all of people in witness experienced. "Give to Caesar what belongs to him, and G-d what belongs to G-d" is one of the most famous answers in scripture. He evaded the danger of the question by implying that the rule of G-d and the rule of Caesar, while separate, where not necessarily contradictory. H’Meshiah indicates that, while at odds with one another on some issues, Caesar may have had some authority under G-d’s authority. Now if a person actively hated Rome, as many did, this answer was not ideal. While things are not always clear black and white, there are lines if authority that should be followed.
Most importantly this is true because, by this answer of Yeshua builds the understanding that there are two realms, at least, that people operate in; physical and spiritual. Both have their own order, structure and regulation, but adherence to one does no excuse disobedience to another. The believer has loyalties to both. Giving to G-d that which belongs to him should, in the end, aid in keeping the lines between G-d & Caesar clear
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