New Concepts of Reinterpretations
Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25. From Jesus‟ question and answer, he wants the authorities to think the answer of their answer. As they find that the face and name
of the Emperor are on the coin, then the taxes belong to him as he deserve to get it. However, there is an implied meaning of Jesus‟ question and answer that
triggers a conflict. First, in the Jewish law, Torah, there is an obligation for the Jews to choose one of them to be the king. It can be simply said that the king of
the Jewish people should be a Jew. Therefore, to install the foreign king is forbidden Deuteronomy 17:15-16. From what Jesus answers, he seems to allow
the governmental system which is run by the foreigner, the Romans. This action is different from what all the Jews understand about the legitimate king. Second, it is
not only because of the Roman Emperor is gentile king. It is important to know that tax is one of the important things in a governmental system to support the
economic interest of the Empire. It can be said that paying taxes to the Emperor is a way to support the economic interest of the Empire.
This kind of activity will of course strengthen the colonial system in a colonized nation. By saying “Well, then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the
Emperor”, Jesus actually gives his contribution in strengthen the colonialism by supporting the Empire‟s economic domination in the Jewish land as the colonized
nation. It shows the loyalty to the Empire. This action of course shows Jesus‟ paradoxical characteristic as the one who is expected to be the one who set the
Jews free from Roman domination. Jesus himself is a preacher who has many disciples and he preaches in many places. Therefore, Jesus always shares his
ideology and reinterpretations on Torah to many people. It also can be said that Jesus makes a movement based on his ideology.
As Jesus himself seems to support the colonialism then all the Jews who follow him must have the same idea with him. This kind of activity will slowly
but sure gives impact to the struggle of anti-imperial resistance in the land. By saying this, Jesus actually weakens the anti-imperial resistance of the Jews. This is
what the Jewish authorities very much afraid of. That is why they always try to stop Jesus‟ movement.