Shall we pay taxes ...?

Haiku of entrapment

He is disturbing,

this teacher come from up north.

They try to trap him.

They flatter Jesus.

We know that you teach God’s way,

tell us what you think.

Should we pay taxes

to the emperor; is God

well served if we do?

Jesus shakes his head,

calls them hypocrites. Show me

the coin for the tax.

Whose head do you see

on the coin? he questioned them.

Why, the emperor’s!

Then give to Caesar

what belongs to him; and give

to God what is God’s.

Good answer, Jesus;

confounding your critics and

asserting God’s claims.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Tell us then, what do you think?

Haiku for cutting through

Should we pay taxes

to the Emperor? they asked,

trying to catch him.

He can’t answer Yes;

but nor can he reply: No.

Both create problems.

They are hypocrites

and he tells them so. Show me

the coin for the tax.

A denarius.

Whose head is this, on the coin;

what is his title?

It’s the emperor!

Then give to Caesar those things

that belong to him.

And, while you’re at it,

give unto God all those things

that belong to God.

They make no reply.

Departing in amazement

they leave him; for now.

© Ken Rookes 2017