Okay, teacher, you think you're so smart — is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor?

Talk about your loaded question!

If we're talking about the law of Rome, the law of the imperial government, the law of this part of the world, of course it's legal to pay taxes to the emperor — it's illegal not to! And just in case Jesus was hoping to fudge a bit on the answer, there are among his questioners members of the Herodian party, supporters of the puppet king, toadies to the Roman government, here listening to his answer. If Jesus so much as hints that the taxes paid to Rome are out of order, the full force of the law will be down upon him.

However, he can't just say, "Of course, pay your taxes!" Because here with the Herodians — odd bedfellows if ever there were — are some Pharisees, the gua…