Ponder these questions as we dwell in Mark 12:13-17:

1. How does the interaction between Jesus and the religious leaders regarding the question of paying taxes reveal their attempts to trap him? What does Jesus' response demonstrate about his awareness of their intentions?

2. What is the significance of Jesus' statement, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's"? How does this statement address the balance between civic responsibilities and spiritual devotion?

3. How does the concept of bearing the image of God relate to the idea of rendering our lives to Him? In what ways can we practically apply this principle in our daily lives, both in civic matters and in our service to God and others?

Transcript:

Here in the Gospel of Mark, there's always something fun going on. Obviously we're going to get to some things that aren't so fun. But this is a fun story to me, because once again they're trying to trick Jesus. They are sending in their best. They got people ready to go.

They are going to get him. We finally got him. We're going to get him on whether or not you should pay taxes. All right, so let's see what Jesus did. Well, they come to him and they butter him up.

I mean, this is for a group of people who don't like Jesus. This is Eddie Haskell like, right? I mean, we know that you are true, do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the they have been doing nothing but opposing him. They don't like the way he does these things. But yet what are they doing?

They're buttering him up and they're just trying to set him up. And so they ask him this question is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not? Well, but know, he understands their hypocrisy. He is the Lord of heaven and earth.

He knows what they are thinking and he knows the answer because he is Lord. And so he is not shaken by all this and he most certainly isn't buttered up. Eddie Haskell has no effect on the Lord Jesus Christ. But Jesus is going to give them a profound answer. And we know the answer.

If you've read this in the past, it's catchy, it's easy to remember, and people quote it quite often. Well, Jesus says, why put me to the test? And so to do this, he asks for a denarius. He wants to see what it is that he is being asked to pay to Caesar. Well, so he asks the question whose inscription and whose likeness is on it?

Well, of course it's Caesar's. And so, Jesus has this famous answer render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. And we know that throughout scripture and what the New Testament Church taught and what the early church taught is that God puts people in position of authority to achieve his purposes. God is in control. He is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth.

And so, if they call to ask people to pay taxes, then we are to pay taxes because those are the servants of the people. Now, that doesn't mean you can't ask questions or even oppose the rate of taxes or how much they are. This doesn't mean that you don't get involved in something political. You just hey, because they asked you give it. But there is a sense here that Jesus is saying, hey, there is a civil order here that is ordained by God that needs to be maintained.

And clearly it's Caesar's money. You're using Caesar's money to pay for your food and all these things. Clearly they are in control of what is going on here. But Jesus also doesn't just say, hey, render to Caesar what is Caesar's? He says, render to God the things that are God's.

And so, all things are God's, right? So, we are called to render all our lives to Him. But more specifically, let's think about this a little deeper. When we saw that they asked to see the daenerys, or I was guessing, I guess I'm assuming it's a coin like ours, it's round. Probably was when they asked to see that daenerys, the image of Caesar was on it.

Well, what bears the image of God? Well, you and I do. And so we are to render our whole lives to God because he is the One who has given us life. And so that's our application for this today. It's really easy for us to get worked up about political things.

And in many cases we should we should be concerned about the things going on in our civil government that's important, active things for us to do as citizens. But at the same time, we need to trust that God is in control and worry most of all about rendering our lives to God because we bear his image. So, while we are doing the things that are required in a good society, we also need to remember that we need to be doing our best to do the will of God, that we need to be doing our best to offering our entire life in service to Him. Because while as we look around, we can see places, maybe that our local government or another government higher up should be fixing things or doing those things, they need to get out here and fix these roads or whatever. But we also see right here in our neighborhoods, right where we live, in our families too, where we can serve God by serving those people.

And so, let us render our lives to God in service to Him, that we might be able to share His Word and bring glory to his name through our giving our lives in service.