Give to God what is rightfully His

Introduction

Good morning church! My name is Alex, I serve as one of the pastors here.

We’ve gotten back into the gospel of Mark. While the first 10 chapters of Mark are dedicated to 3 years of ministry in the region, the last 6 chapters are all slowing down into the final week of Jesus life.

We started the new year with what’s called the Triumphal Entry where Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem and people are following him, cheering for him, celebrating that they believe him to their savior. The weeks events began in celebration, but as the week goes on, the t ension in the city rises.

On Monday Jesus cursed the fig tree and flipped tables and on Tuesday they noticed the fig tree’s withered and Jesus begins a cycle of interactions with the religious leaders.

What we have experienced already becomes the greater theme of this whole section. From chapter 11:27-12:34 l there is a cycle of different conversations that Jesus has with different powerful figures in Jerusalem, but the common theme through every interaction is that they are questioning Jesus’ authority.

Today we have the pleasure of camping out in a short section with questions about taxes and obeying the government which seems like a topic people think the church should always talk about or says the church should never talk about, but I think there is something much larger lurking behind the answer Jesus gives we must listen for.

The big idea for the morning is simple - Give to God what is rightfully His.

Here’s where we’re going this morning, First we’re going to just walk through these verses explaining them as we go, second we’ll see how the gospel speaks to us through the passage, and finally some application in light of this.

Context

In chapter 11:27 Jesus is first approached in Jerusalem by the Chief priests who are members of the high priestly families, who have authority over who becomes the next high priest, the scribes who are the scholars on the Torah/Old Testament and exercise religious authority over interpretation, observance and purity, and the elders who serve as community administrators and judges so they have judicial authority enforcing it and punishing offenders.

But here in chapter 12:13 we read that “they sent to him Pharisees and Herodians.” So after Jesus leaves the priests, elders, and scribes speechless they probably go back to this bigger group of leaders called the Sanhedrin which is just the mashing of all these different powerful people to make decisions. It’s likely that the Sanhedrin is the group that is sending different individuals to Jesus in these days.

The Herodians were a political party connected with Herod. Basically they are influential men who are loyal to King Herod who is ultimately loyal to Rome. The Pharisees are a group of particularly observant and influential Jews who through their influence and knowledge and are “set apart” from other Jews because of their “holiness.” So the two groups coming to question the authority of Jesus are specifically interested in how Jesus will relate to his Jewish faith in relation to the Roman government.

V. 13 tells us that these two groups came to trap him. The picture given in the language is that to trap is like capturing prey by hunting or fishing, it’s a violent pursuit of their prey.

These Pharisees and Herodians never really interact. They don’t like each other and they’d probably consider one another an enemy of sorts because the Jews don’t want to be under Roman rule, but play nice so that they can keep whatever control they have. But these two enemies come together because they have a common bond, a preacher from Nazareth has begun to ruffle their feathers.

In v. 14 they come to Jesus with what seems like encouragement and respect, but is actually flattery that’s false because they really want to play gotcha with Jesus just like the others who have gone before them. They come with a loaded question asking about if God’s okay with them paying taxes to Rome or if Jews should not pay the tax.

But in Jesus response he knows their intentions and he makes it known that He knows they are trying to trap him. But he asks for a denarius from them to give them an answer to the question.

The Denarius & Trap

The Denarius was a silver coin that was the average days wage and when he asks whos likeness, who’s image is on the coin, it’s an image of Caesar. Just like on our modern coins they have past presidents, the denarius had the picture of Caesar on it with an inscription that read “Tiberius Caesar Agustus, Son of the Divine” on one side “High Priest” on the other side with the image Tiberius’ mother. Just as the coin bears Caesar’s image and thus belongs to him, every human bears God’s image from creation. Our lives, loyalties, everything about us is stamped with God’s image.

For about 25 years the jews have been paying this tax, but it wasn’t just paying the tax and paying for their own servitude Rome that was an issue, it’s that they had to pay with the Denarius and using a coin that gave credit to a roman claiming to be the son of God and his mother as the high priest was blasphemous.

The trap their getting Jesus into is that if Jesus tells them to pay their taxes and it’s lawful under jewish law, they would incite the jewish zealots who refused to pay the tax and the people would see Jesus not as a man for the people, but as another puppet for Rome. But if Jesus said no, don’t pay it, the Herodians would go back and begin to tell the Romans about Jesus beginning to bring about revolution to throw them down.

But Jesus doesn’t do this at all with his question. He actually gives them an answer that both sides are frustrated with and amazed at what just happened. The first half of Jesus’ answer to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” would have driven the Zealots mad. But In Jesus finishing what he says to give to God what are his, he’s telling them to their faces that all that has the image of God must be given to him. This closes with them marveling at Jesus and what he just said.

But their amazement points us to something even greater. Jesus isn’t just dodging a trap, He’s revealing His supreme authority over every earthly power.

Jesus & Government

Here’s why they marvel. What Israel has hoped for and dreamed of is that they would be their own kingdom once more. They would function continually with a King and their law would be the Scriptures that God gave them.

But what Jesus is doing here is acknowledging and ordaining another human institution, the legitimacy of human government. This teaching from Jesus actually shapes the way that the people of God, moving forward view how to function with the institution of human governments.

But what is of first importance is that the Government isn’t over God and that’s what I think is revealed in a lot of our hearts when it comes to political conversations in our current day. What we start to do is have our political thought give shape and form to how we read the scriptures. But how we understand the Christian interacting with the government is with God over all humanity because his image is upon every human being.

As we even see the apostles pick up this teaching and apply it to their day and write to the church we have several examples building upon this. In Romans 13 Paul writes Romans 13:1–7 “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.”

Or Peter in 1 Peter actually structures part of his letter with the 3 institutions that Jesus ordains. He begins with the government chapter 2, marriage in chapter 3 and the church in chapter 5. 1 Peter 2:13–17 “Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

This is why the people are amazed at Jesus. He is telling them that they first and foremost give themselves to God as they are made in God’s image, but at the same time, he is showing that God is actually over the government regardless if they are leaders who honor God or don’t. As followers of Christ, we have responsibilities to the government and as long as those obligations don’t interfere with our ability to honor and worship God, we continue to fulfill our obligations to the government. We even have past examples to look at for this. Daniel in Babylon submits up until he’s asked to worship a false king. He stands firm in his faith while submitting to the governing authority in his life.

Here’s why Jesus can make such a claim and blow the people away with his instruction, because of who He specifically is.

Colossians 1:15–16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.”

Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Jesus is the true image of God. He is the one who all things were created through and who all things were created for. Everything belongs to King Jesus who right now sits on his throne over all creation. He does not submit to humanity, human governments cannot do so much harm that it would thwart his plans, He is the ruler above all.

And because of that there is only one natural response. To pledge our allegiance to him. In preschool my daughter has learned the american pledge of allegiance, you remember, where you stand up at the flag and recite it all together. The purpose behind it is to express loyalty to the country, affirm allegiance to the people, and promote it’s values.

Often when we think about our walk with Christ, when someone says their a Christian, they don’t really know what they’re maybe saying. It’s heritage, family background information, a label that they don’t fully affirm. But when we see Jesus for who he truly is, the image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer, the one who died for our sin and who sits on his throne over all creation, we don’t just give ourselves a label and become morally good people.

But to actually respond in faith to Jesus is to give Him our full allegiance. To recognize that His image is on us and because we are rightfully his and we give our whole lives devoted to him as Lord over all.

But what we sometimes fall into is actually placing him second or third. Things like our political affiliations or ideas actually shape the way we believe and what we fight for. Or we grant him authority over our salvation, but not over how we speak about people we disagree with. And we see it played out in this passage as well. Here’s a couple ways that the passage highlights our lack of allegiance to Jesus.

Application

First, we give to God what is rightfully His.

The whole reason that they even approach Jesus with this question is not to actually learn from him. It’s not to be curious to find out if he is the Messiah as people are saying or prophecies are being fulfilled. They aren’t giving their lives to God and Jesus calls them out on it. They’re holding back, using flattery and cunning questions as a smokescreen. In verse 17, Jesus is essentially telling them, “pay your taxes and repent and believe.”

For some of you in the room, it may be that you’re willing to show up on Sundays, but you’re not actually willing to give your allegiance and loyalty to committing to following Jesus with the rest of your life. God’s image is on you, it’s how he made you. All of your life is rightfully his. Not just 90 minutes on Sunday, but your heart and affection.

For some of you it looks like you give God your time by serving and attending. But when it comes to your duty to evangelize or share your faith with someone, you reject God. You excuse it with spiritual language of “being a light to them” but never bringing up the name of Jesus. You say you hate or don’t like your neighbors so you avoid talking with them and building relationship and point them to Christ.

For some of it it might look like prioritizing spiritual growth amid the chaos of diapers, school drop offs, kids events, and bed time stories. Imagine a parent who faithfully attends Sunday services and even volunteers in kids ministry but at home, family devotion gets skipped and swapped for scrolling and sports watching. You faithfully serve outside of your home, but your personal devotion, marriage, and kids are starving for the bread of life. We use language like were too tired, too busy instead of asking for help and accountability from the brothers and sisters in the church with us. It’s not about perfection, but about recognizing that your family rhythm should reflect His owernship over your household, not just your convenience.

Second, Give to God your Allegiance.

Building on the first point allegiance isn’t divided, Jesus demands our primary loyalty above all else. The coin has Caesar’s image, so give to him his due, but you bear God’s. We often elevate other “Caesars” in our lives like people, politics, or preferences and twist scripture to justify it.

Some of us will idolize an influencer, friends, or mentors. If a pastor’s podcast, professor’s ideology, or a celebrity’s social media feed becomes your gospel truth, you have displaced Jesus.

Your favorite online or tiktok preacher may align with you on your view of immigration or dating, but they ignore Scriptures that challenge you like loving our enemies/those we disagree with and then we too ignore passages like Ephesians 4:29 “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” when it comes to what we post online or comment on threads.

Ultimately, if there’s no tension where Jesus’ Word makes you disagree with your “tribe” you need to check who’s on your throne. True allegiance to God brings freedom, not fear of conflict.

Third, Honor the Authorities God’s Placed

Jesus doesn’t dodge the tax question but He affirms civic duty even under a flawed Roman emperor who claimed divinity. It echos passages like Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 where Paul and Peter urge honor and prayer for authorities, even persecutors like Nero in their time. It’s not blind obedience, but respectful submission.

This looks like respecting teachers, bosses, or government rules even when it’s inconvenient. If were constantly complaining and talking down what does that teach or create in us and those around us? A parent who constantly complains or speaks poorly of their child’s teacher/administration fosters rebellion in their kid rather than a heart that prays for admin.

Rather than honor our teachers, or boss we question, fight against, and rebell because we think they don’t know what they’re talking about or believe our way to be better. Or when it’s tempting to dishonor those we oppose like badmouthing a president in conversations. All of this comes from a heart that wants authority or pride rather than honoring the Lord by honoring authorities, even as their flawed. It’s not about agreement, but about attitude, leading to peace and opportunities for the Gospel.

What would it look like if a believer who is facing some unfair policies at work chose to pray daily for their boss and submit respectfully? What if God answered those prayers and opened the door for conversation about the policies and even further a gospel conversation about Jesus?

Conclusion

As Christians, we are to be set apart. We know how God has revealed that he is over all of creation. We understand the gift and miracle it is that God did not just simply make us with his image, but went further to the point of perfectly living it out for us. And in our response to be fully devoted to God, as we give to God what is rightfully his, the way we walk, talk, and handle ourselves should be so different from those around us that it’s clear our citizenship here is not the one that is eternal. Our citizenship as ambassadors from the Kingdom of God is our public display for all to see, Caesar can have his for now. Jesus is still completely King.

If you’ve been holding back any part of your life from King Jesus, your politics, family, your words, repent and pledge your full allegiance to Him. Let’s pray together for the grace to live as ambassadors who give to God what is rightfully His.