"Jesus refused to be impaled on the horns of a false dilemma; for the issue was not "giving" voluntarily to Caesar, but "paying" what was due. Neither a direct affirmation nor denial of Caesar's claim would convey the exact impression he wished to give. To say "Yes," pay the tax to Caesar," to accept the legitimacy of Roman authority, would be to align himself with the Herodian party and place an imprimatur on the existing social order. To reply "no, refuse to pay the tax," would have the effect of countenancing violent revolt. What Jesus did was to return an evasive answer, probably with an ironical twist, insisting thereby that there was no incompatibility between political obligation and religious allegiance in the matter under debate. This, at least, is how Paul understood it (Rom. 13: ff.): God's control extends over everything, including what Caesar claims as his. The Jews acknowledge the divine sovereignty in that Caesar is permitted to rule over God's people and to mint coins with his image imprinted on them (vs. 16). If they admit to a possession of Caesar's coinage, they must pay the tax in that coin" (p. 95).