'Tell us, then what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, 'Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax.' And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.' (Matt. 22:17-21. Cf. Luke 20:21-25 and Mark 12:14-17)Jesus escapes his enemies' attack by offending neither the nationalist parties (with an overt approval of paying taxes) nor the seat of the empire (with an overt disapproval of paying taxes). He is a prudent steward or economist of the truth."
Marc Shell The Economy of Literature (1978) p.82