24.176 | RENDER TO GOD WHAT IS DUE UNTO HIM | Mark

Text: Mark 12:13-17 (ESV)
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,[c] but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius[d] and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.
RENDER TO GOD WHAT IS DUE UNTO HIM
According to the account of Luke, gives details that the scribes and chief priests want a valid excuse to arrest Jesus there and then. Thus, they send the Pharisees and Herodians to try to trap Jesus into saying something that would incriminate Himself. They were intentional to trap Jesus. "Trap" is from the Greek root word ‘agreuo’ and literally means to hunt. The word implies an intent to capture by surprise. On the other hand, Matthew's account uses "entangle" which is from the Greek root word ‘pagideuo’, that is "to ensnare, as a bird in a net" (Mat 22:15).
Jesus knows it so that He asked, “Why put me to the test?” He knows that they pretend to be sincere.[Luke 20:20] As a note, the Pharisees and Herodians dislike each other in every other context, but cooperate to oppose Jesus early on in His ministry (Mark 3:6). The Pharisees were threatened because Jesus rebukes them of their man-made traditions over Mosaic law. Whereas, the Herodians were concerned that Jesus may start a rebellion that would provoke the Roman government.
They trapped Him about paying taxes. Does Jesus support the Roman government by paying taxes? Jesus rebuke them using the denarius. He confirmed with them that Caesar’s image is enscribed in it. A denarius is a coin equivalent to a day's wage for a laborer. (Mat 20:1-16). The design of coin itself is scandalous to the Jews. Why? The image of Emperor Tiberius is pressed into one side with the words "Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus." This means, the coin claims Tiberius is a demigod and his parents are gods of the emperor cult.
Jesus made a proclamation about the delineation of the human government and His kingdom. He said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” Tiberius' authority is acknowledged by Jesus. It is well within the rights of His government to issue coins and collect taxes. It is within a private person's rights to use those coins and pay taxes.. If "bearing the image" of someone implies obligation, then coins bearing the image of Caesar are legitimately owed to Caesar. However, a life bearing the image of God, therefore, is rightfully owed to God (Gen 1:27).
Paul reiterates Jesus' words to the Christians in Rome. He explains that secular rulers are servants of God, commissioned by God to enforce justice. As such, they are owed their taxes, and we are to pay what is owed (Rom 13:1-7). It is possible to give due respect to a God-established but ungodly civil government and worship God at the same time.
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