What do you think “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” means?
Obviously I wasn’t there to ask what the finer intent of that parable was, but I’ve always interpreted as having deeper meaning than a sort of offhanded “it’s caesars coin, so give it to him.”
I think the early history of the church bears out what were really seditious underpinnings. The romans were evil to be sure, but more interested in power and debauchery than some obscure religion. Why were the Christians singled out?
The romans knew the existential threat the Christians posed.