Giving back to God what is His

Introduction

Mark 12:13–17 NIV

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him 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 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.” And they were amazed at him.

The Pharisees and Herodian attempt to trap Jesus by asking a question about paying taxes to Rome. Jesus responds with giving back to whom which it belongs, Caesar to Caesar and God to God. This passage give us insight into the conflict we often have between God and government. More so, it gives us a proper perspective on loyalties and to whom we ultimately belong too.

What does God say?

verse 13: “they” who sent the Pharisees and Herodians were the chief priest, elders, and teachers of the law Jesus encountered in verses 1-12. Pharisees are a religious sect within Sanhedrin (Pharisees and Sadducees). Herodians were loyal followers of Herod Antipas. Their purpose was to “catch him (Jesus) in his words,” which means to get him in a verbal exchange to catch him in a mistake. They were going to ask a question where it would be impossible for Jesus to give an answer that pleases everyone.

verses 14-15a: They led off by saying Jesus is a man of integrity (truth), impartial (meaning to not care about the appearance of a person), and teacher of the way (will) of God in accordance with the truth. This was pure flattery before attempting to trap him. The questions were about paying taxes to Caesar and whether or not it right to do so. In the historical-cultural context of this situation, we must acknowledge the influence of the Zealots existed during this time. Zealots opposed Roman rule and sought to overthrow it by any means. For Jesus to give a yes or no answer would have led to a verbal dispute, accusations, and issues between himself and party He did not side with. And for Jesus not to answer the question would suggest He did not know and put His integrity as a Rabbi in question.

verses 15b-17: Jesus was aware of their hypocrisy and knew the question which they asked was an attempt to trap him. So He asked them to bring him a denarius so He can look at it. “The silver denarius was the required coinage for tax payment, and it carried a portrait of the emperor together with his official title, which at this time under Tiberius would include the words DIVI AUG. FILIUS, ‘Son of the divine Augustus’. For a strict Jew this was not only politically but also religiously offensive, involving both a ‘graven image’ and also words which should not be applied to any human being, certainly not to a pagan Roman. But for everyday commerce the Jews were able to avoid ‘idolatry’ by using copper coins, locally minted, which bore no image. By asking his questioners to show him a denarius Jesus wrong-footed them. He himself apparently did not have a denarius, but his questioners were able to produce one. They were therefore in no position to criticise Jesus for lack of patriotism or of religious scruples, if they themselves were already carrying the ‘idolatrous’ imperial money.”

R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2002), 465–466.

Jesus asks who image and inscription is on the coin, which they replied “Caesar.” Then Jesus says “give back” or “render” to Caesar what is Caesar and God what is God’s. The fascinating thing here is the oppositions questions about giving (didomi) to Caesar was in regards to taking out of one’s own earning and giving it as if giving a gift. The Greek word apodote means to give back, pay back, or repay. Where the questioners had the idea of giving out of one’s income to give to Caesar, Jesus statement suggest what you have was never yours so you give back what belongs to that person. “The use of Caesar’s coin symbolises the dependence of the subject people on the benefits of Roman rule, and to use that coin to pay the poll tax is to recognise and discharge that indebtedness. The verb thus suggests that the payment is not only ‘permitted’, but is in fact right in itself, so that to withhold it would be to defraud.”

R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2002), 468–469.

The Pharisees and Herodians were amazed at Jesus. They expected to trap Jesus with the questions but left amazed. Where they were hoping to show opposing loyalty to Roman government and God, Jesus demonstrated under normal circumstances, an individual can be loyal to both.

What do we take from this?

All human being are made in the image of God (Gen 9:6)

We were once in debt and deserved death. We were once under God’s wrath. We no longer are because Jesus paid the price.

We who belong to God, give back to God in worship (faithfulness).

Maintain loyalty to government in accordance to God’s word (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17)