Read Matthew 22:15-22 with your family.

Many people know this story, even if they don’t attend Sunday school or church regularly. But why was this a trick and why did Jesus know it was a trick?

When Jesus was a small child, another person from Galilee named Judas (not any of Jesus’ friends and followers) encouraged a tax revolt around the year 6 CE. The Romans were fierce in putting it down and many Hebrew people suffered. After that, Rome and her officials, including the Temple leadership in Jerusalem, watched to see if anyone else would suggest not paying taxes to Rome as a way of encouraging rebellion.

Jesus knew this history of his people and he knew that the Temple leadership was trying to trick him.

Jesus rarely answered questions directly and never for the Temple leadership. But in his answers and new questions he showed us different ways to look at the world.

Jesus never asked us to be outside the world and not interact with others.

Jesus asked us to change the world, and share the gifts that God gave us.