Give to Caesar

Taxation via the temple system was a strategy that Rome used to subdue Israel into paying taxes. While not popular, the tax collectors should have had a wonderful life giving role however, given that they took money for themselves and collected taxes for an imperial power, they were extremely distrusted.

In this reading, Jesus is challenged about paying tax to Caesar and he responds. However he does not just rage against Rome, he points a finger at the systematic abuse by the temple structure who play along with Rome.