Whose Image does it Bear?

Opening Line: Let’s play a fill-in-the-blank game this morning. Ready?

No taxation without representation.

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. - C. Coolidge

Two things in life are sure: death and taxes.

They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money. - Al Capone

You don’t pay taxes — they take taxes. - Chris Rock

Read my lips: no new taxes. - George H.W. Bush

And finally, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. - Jesus

In Mark 12:13-17, Jesus is again confronted by the Jewish leadership, this time by the Pharisees and the Herodians. Again, seeking a way to trap Jesus, they come with a question that seems perfectly poised to put this Galilean in His place, once-and-for-all. The scene that unfolds ends with what I believe is one of the most powerful statements that Jesus speaks in all of the Gospels. Join me as we study God’s Word together this morning.

Herodians and Pharisees

Mark 12:13 CSB

Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words.

Unlikely “bedfellows”

Pharisees:

Religious conservatives

Tended toward religious purity

Feared Jesus tearing down their system of “holiness” and threatening their religious influence

Herodians:

Loyal to Herod

Valued political power

Feared Jesus would cause more instability in Judea and Rome stripping them of more power

Fake Flattery

Mark 12:14 CSB

When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

“Nor do you show partiality” could literally be translated “You do not look into (the) face of people.”

Their flattery is ironic:

They likely don’t believe what they’re saying.

A person that is impartial will not be swayed by fake flattery.

They call Him “teacher,” a title of respect, yet have no actual respect for Him.

The claim He is “truthful” and yet will crucify Him as a blasphemer.

They note He is impartial while trying to trap Him on a hotly debated topic.

The conclude He teaches “the way of God,” yet they are unwilling to submit to His authority.

The question: whether or not to pay taxes to Caesar.

Jews hated paying taxes to Rome because they saw it as supporting their oppressors.

A two-sided trap: will Jesus be caught by religion or Rome?

If Jesus said pay the tax, Pharisees could have claimed Jesus sided with the Jewish oppressors.

If Jesus said don’t pay the tax, Herodians could have drug Him before the Romans on insurrection charges.

They feel that the trap has been set…how will Jesus possibly get out of this one? Either way, He’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Kobayashi Maru? But, Jesus doesn’t answer with a yes or no. Instead, He redefines the problem and floors the listeners.

Whose Image does it Bear?

Mark 12:15–17 CSB

But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied. Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

Again, the irony. When asked about paying taxes, Jesus has no coin, but the others do.

The coin is dripping with idolatry and blasphemy.

One side touts Tiberius as divine.

The other side pictures a priestess proclaiming the Pax Romana and placing all in subjection to it.

The entire issue boils down to image:

The intentional usage of “image.”

The denarius had Tiberius’ image.

“Pay back” what belongs to Caesar.

Legitimacy of government/taxes for certain civil services (fire, police, protection, government salaries, etc.)

Image invokes creation language.

Jesus gives an answer that is very broad on the surface, but very deep in actual implication.

Every human bears the image of God, therefore every human is responsible to God.

There becomes an imperative to worship through sacrificial surrender and, and an imperative to fulfill the Great Commission.

Obey the government as long as you can.

Worship God as long as you live.