GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S

Passage: Mark 12:13-17

Key verse: 17

NIV

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians(B) to Jesus to catch him(C) in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”(D)

And they were amazed at him.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 (A)And they sent to him some of (B)the Pharisees and some of (C)the Herodians, to (D)trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, (E)we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For (F)you are not swayed by appearances,[a] but truly teach (G)the way of God. Is it lawful to pay (H)taxes to (I)Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing (J)their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why (K)put me to the test? Bring me (L)a denarius[b] and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, (M)“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 12:14 Greek you do not look at people's faces
  2. Mark 12:15 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Whose portrait is this? (13-16)

Jesus' enemies joined forces to entangle him. They wanted to prove that he was an anti-government radical. The Pharisees and Herodians flattered him to put him off guard, and then asked him about paying taxes. No one likes to pay taxes. But Jesus held up a Roman coin, stamped with the image of Caesar. The coin belonged to Rome. Taxes should be paid. Christians should be good citizens. Jesus' challenge to Rome was not a materialistic challenge. He challenges all worldly power with his spiritual authority.

2. Give to God what is God's (17)

What is God's? We are God's, for he made us and stamped us with his image. The fruit of the vineyard belongs to God, for he is the owner. The religious and political leaders who only enjoyed their privileges, while ignoring their basic responsibilities, must give God what belongs to him.

Prayer: Lord, I belong to you, for you are my Creator and Redeemer. Give me faith to give to you what belongs to you. And also help me to be a good citizen.

One Word: Render to God what is God's