The Revolution According to Jesus Christ
Why anyone interested in liberation should read Matthew 22:21
I am not a Christian, but as a spiritual anarchist community organizer interested in a just and conscious society, I happen to like Jesus. I consider Mr. Jesus H. Christ not my lord and savior, but a mentor and role model for both my spiritual and my social change goals. His praxis is as valuable as his preaching.
My favorite Bible verse is Matthew 22:21. For context, this is the part when the Pharisees and Herodians try to trick Jesus into speaking treason by asking him whether he condones paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus shows them one of Caesar’s coins and asks them whose likeness is in the image.
“They [the Pharisees and Herodians] say unto him, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then sayeth [Jesus] unto them, ‘Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.’”— Matthew 22:21, KJV
To understand the significance of this statement, we need to understand Jesus’s overall philosophy towards suffering and liberation. For our prime example, we have the famous “turn the other cheek” passage from the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus counsels:
“That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if…
