Paying Taxes and Bearing Images

Introduction

In this study we will be looking at Mark 12: 13 - 17. This passage, often with the subheading “Paying Taxes to Caesar”, has much to say to us of how we are to live today.

We must first notice the context of these verses. Mark 11 speaks of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem for the Passover. He is there not only for the festival but also for His ultimate act of sacrificial love and victory. At the start of chapter 11 there is the triumphal entry and a look around. Jesus and His disciples then withdraw, only to return the next day where we have the clearing of the temple, followed by another exit and entry. All the while Jesus is teaching about His Kingship and about authority and faith.

As we reach Mark 11: 27 they arrive back in Jerusalem and Jesus is questioned. It is the chief priests and the teachers of the law who are questioning Him. The first question on authority is not a new one, though perhaps it is brought with a little less negative presumption (see Mark 3: 29 - 30). The parable that follows clearly tells us that Jesus’ authority comes from the Father. It also speaks openly against the religious leaders, in fact they even understand the parable, Mark 12: 12.

This is the context for our passage, and the next question.

Flattery or Worship?

“Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, 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 taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

Mark 12: 14 - 13

The opening words are pure flattery, possibly with a little barb - “you pay no attention to who they [men] are”. If those speaking truly believed what they said then surely they would not be trying to trap Jesus, rather they would be following Him.

Jesus sees straight through them.

This is the first challenge issued to us today. Do we simply flatter Jesus with our words, or do we believe and follow Him, worshipping Him with our lives?

Motivation and Expectation

“Should we pay or shouldn’t we”

Mark 12: 15

This question is, I think, motivated by their expectations of what God’s Kingdom and rule would be like.

Living in occupied territory they were longing for the day that God would rescue them. Longing for the day God would destroy their oppressor, after all the Israelites have a long history of God working in that way. This expectation has blinded them to who the real oppressor is and what God is doing about it.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth He brought freedom from sickness and suffering. He has taught about His Kingdom, and freed people from their sin. Consider Mark 2: 1 - 12. The physical need is clear, but Jesus first addresses the spiritual need. Jesus first deals with the real oppressor – sin.

The Pharisees, Herodians, Chief Priests, and teachers of the law are all focussed on Rome. Their concern is with the external state of the world. As such they see that this is where they need rescue and so this is what they are looking for God to do. What they don’t see is the bigger picture of a broken world trapped by sin, and a saviour sent to restore people to God. Their expectations, and limited hopes, have left them blind to what God is doing. They are asking Jesus a question with the wrong expectation.

Furthermore, they not only miss who Jesus is but they want to get rid of Him. This is where their motivation becomes confusing. On the one hand, I think they want God to rush in and crush their oppressors. On the other hand these leaders have carved out for themselves a place of comfort with their own people, and with their oppressors. Into this place comes Jesus, and He threatens to upset this balance.

The people seem to love Him because of His teaching and authority over all things. It seems the religious leaders are scared. They are scared that Jesus could lead a revolt and that would bring the might of Rome down on them. Their focus is fixed on earthly concerns alone, they do not see or understand what Jesus’ Kingship really means.

This leads them to a question couched in flattery that is designed to trap Jesus because they have the wrong expectation of how God is going to rescue His people, and a wrong motivation for responding to Jesus.

Here we have our second challenge. As we come to God are we bringing our own expectations, are we motivated by what we think the solution/action should be? Or are we seeking His Kingdom first and trusting that His plan is best?

What Jesus Wants

“They brought him the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?””

Mark 12: 16

Jesus knows it is a trap. Before we look at Jesus’ response let’s consider the trap a little more.

If Jesus says you must no longer pay taxes to Rome then He is leading a revolt. These Pharisees and Herodians could hand Him over to the Romans as a rebel leader, as someone stirring up a revolution. Rome would then remove Him. In this way these leaders keep the place of privilege and comfort that the Romans have afforded them. Not only that, they look innocent before their own people. This question of taxes is designed to get the answer they want, it is supposed to result in the removal of Jesus, all while they retain their innocence.

I think it is important to see this as we can all come to Jesus with questions like this.

Now let’s look at the answer.

As He so often does, Jesus answers by asking a question, and in the answer He receives He reveals a deeper truth than those asking the question were looking for.

Jesus looks at the coin and asks who is on this coin. When they answer in the only way possible, “Caesar”, Jesus moves on to a profound teaching that still challenges us today.

“Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.”

Mark 12: 17

What an answer! There’s no way this could be interpreted as trying to stir up opposition against Rome. Jesus is clear, taxes should be paid. But more than that, Jesus issues a challenge.

“[give] to God what is God’s”

Mark 12: 17a

We are left with a question; what is God’s? Or, if we see from verse 16 that belonging can be determined by image bearing, what bears God’s image? The answer to that is simple, powerful, and challenging; we do! We bear the image of God.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them,”

Genesis 1: 27

At the very beginning humanity was created as image bearers, we bear God’s image. On that basis we are to give ourselves to God, for we belong to Him.

Here we have our third challenge. Are we giving all of ourselves to God? We belong to him completely, created by Him to bear His image. Are we giving ourselves to Him in that way?