The tax collectors were asking for payment. Neither Jesus nor his disciple Peter had the cash.
Some Bible scholars believe Jesus felt that he, and possibly Peter as well, should be exempt from the tax, which was intended for the upkeep of the Temple in Jerusalem. In addition, some historians say that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who later ordered Jesus’ execution, was appropriating Temple funds to build an aqueduct to bring water into Jerusalem. Public anger over this use of funds earmarked for something else caused riots.
To sum up: The tax collectors were asking Jesus for money he did not have to pay a tax he may have felt he didn’t owe that was possibly going to be misappropriated anyway.
Don’t we hear stories like this today? The term “trust deficit” may be fairly new, but the concept of people losing faith in each other, institutions, and the government is certainly not.
Christ Jesus is our Way-shower, so it’s helpful to look at what he did in circumstances such as these. Jesus didn’t respond to the tax collectors with fear, anger, ego, pride, or self-righteousness. He paid the tax with money supplied by divine Love. He told Peter to catch a fish, and a coin worth enough to pay taxes for them both would be in the fish’s mouth. And he told Peter the reason for paying was “lest we should offend them” (see Matthew 17:24-27).
That is, Jesus acted in love. He didn’t wait for a perfect government before loving and blessing everyone around him.
Of course there are legitimate reasons for governments to collect taxes. And on occasion, taxes become a flashpoint if enough people believe the money will be misused. But the issue of a trust deficit goes far beyond mere taxes. Individuals and communities might feel powerless in the face of institutional and governmental forces whose motives and objectives seem, or in some cases may actually be, hidden. Corruption may tempt those who hold power; suspicion may tempt those who don’t.
It’s useful to remember that acting out of love did not make Jesus either blind to or powerless before abuses of power. The love he expressed was the reflection of God, divine Love. Jesus understood that Love is the only power, the only creator, and created all things good. This understanding endowed him with wisdom, discernment, intelligence, and dominion. It endowed him without measure with Christ, the spiritual idea of the divine Principle, Love.
Because Jesus constantly expressed Love himself, he couldn’t help but see Love’s expression, true purity and goodness, in those around him. When individuals acted in deceptive and manipulative ways, he knew that deception and manipulation were no part of their true, God-given nature because they are no part of God. The Bible shows that this correct view healed.
Jesus expected us to follow his example. “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” he said (John 14:15). Love did not ask Jesus, and does not ask us, to give blanket trust to any person or human institution, though it does give us the wisdom and discernment to recognize when trust is warranted – or not. But whatever those around us are doing, Love demands that our own thoughts and actions be guided by the law of Love, blessing our fellows.
Obedience to Love turns our trust toward our Father-Mother God, who is forever worthy of trust. It teaches us to trust Love’s guidance and Love’s disposal of events and to act only as guided by Love.
Love provides abundantly. Her children never need to compete for scarce resources. Love upholds the unique and necessary contribution of every individual, destroying all desire for dominion over others. Countless individuals, and even communities, have been saved from abuses of power through the prayer that loves and refuses to accept as real anything but Love’s expression. There are also inspiring examples of those impelled by divine Love to express the highest integrity in government roles, even when under pressure to do the opposite.
The discoverer of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes, “Mankind will be God-governed in proportion as God’s government becomes apparent, the Golden Rule utilized, and the rights of man and the liberty of conscience held sacred. Meanwhile, they who name the name of Christian Science will assist in the holding of crime in check, will aid the ejection of error, will maintain law and order, and will cheerfully await the end – justice and judgment” (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,” p. 222). That’s an outcome – and a government – we can all trust.
Adapted from an editorial published in the April 15, 2024, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.
Inspired to think and pray further about fostering trust around the globe? To explore how people worldwide are navigating times of mistrust and learning to build trust in each other, check out the Monitor’s “Rebuilding trust” project.
