Mark 12:13 – 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. (NLT)
In today’s passage, we have two groups that opposed each other coming together to confront Jesus. The Pharisees generally opposed Roman rule, while the Herodians, a political group, cooperated with Rome. Perhaps they wanted Jesus to settle their disagreement. We don’t know for sure, but the word ‘catch’ in verse thirteen implied an attempt by both groups to trap Jesus.
What I find to be so powerful about Jesus’ answer has nothing to do with paying taxes, and everything with being a Christian. Jesus said to give to God what is God’s. What exactly belongs to God? Everything! Most importantly, for we who call God ‘our God’, our very lives belong to God. God’s Word tells us: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
As Christians, we are not to live for ourselves. Indeed, Jesus told us that if we try to live for ourselves, we will only lose our life. Only in giving up living for ourselves can we discover life. (John 12:25).
Chris Tomlin had a popular song a few years back entitled, “You Are My King.” A beautiful song! In this song we find these words: “It’s my joy to honor you. In all I do I honor you.” Today, let us honor God in all that we do, in all that we say, in all that we think. Let us give back to God what belongs to God.
Posted by Ramón Torres
Thank you…it all belongs to God and we often don’t treat His stuff, His world, His people with the same love He gives to us. Imagine the world we could have. Forgive us Lord 🙏