Jesus of Nazareth Quote

I don't play the temple game. I don't play the Jesus or the bible game. I don't play the game. The only winning move is not to play the game.

     Waffler, thank you for the honorable mention. But if you ever see this, can you give the exact site where Jesus said people should pay tithes and taxes in the same sentence. Waffler, you being a ranking tax collector - enslaving by the 2nd plank of the communist manifesto, you are exactly replicating the Pharisees and Herodians position in Mark 12:13-17; “And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why atempt ye me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”

     Waffler, the question to catch Jesus in His words was: “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?” Understanding the terms gives clarity to Jesus’ response. First, “lawful”, references the common law of Israel where it was/is only lawful to give unto YHWH (Jesus being YHWH incarnate). The term “legal” may be governmentally applied even when it is unlawful (slight of words / trick question). Second, “Caesar”, as a title to position, carried every designation that would apply to YHWH (god, savior, redeemer, etc., plus conqueror, slave master, owner). Caesar was not Jesus’s god or owner ! ! ! Thus it was not lawful to pay such tribute to Caesar but rather legal under Roman sword. Plus, under Roman law at the time, ministers / Rabbis / Pharisees / Herodians, etc. were exempt from paying taxes. Third, “tribute” was NOT a simple tax - while also, there were many types of taxes. Tribute was a designation that the owned property, the lower than slave was to offer (as a religious sacrament) to his god and master part of his being (money, wife, child, etc.) Jesus ask for a denarius on purpose, as it was the normal pay for a laborer’s full day. Jesus’s answer mystified the tricksters, If Caesar be your god and master, render tribute unto him; if the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel be your god, pay unto Him what you will. Waffler, you dis-information and misdirection did NOT serve the cause of truth.