Exposition: (Mark 12:13-17)

(14a) It is not uncommon to hear unsaved people saying nice things about Jesus!

“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, but truly teach the way of God.”

(13) But the truth is, they do not mean it, and only want to deny Him and destroy His followers!

“And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.”

(14b) One of the largest points of contention is over the believer’s relationship in relation to our God and to our government!

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”

(15-17) As always, Jesus has the perfect answer!

“But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. And they brought one. And he said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said to him, ‘Caesar’s.’ 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.”

Applications:

RENDER TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S:

1. We are citizens of our Country!

2. This means that we have both rights and responsibilities:

– Rights

(a) All Constitutional Protections! (especially life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the free exercise of our religious faith!)

(b) Fair and equal treatment in the eyes of the law!

(c) To Vote!

– Responsibilities (Mark 12:13-17; Romans 13:1-7)

(a) Pay our taxes!

(b) Vote! Cf. James 4:17

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

(c) Honor the duly elected and legally appointed leaders of the Country as they are ultimately put in place by God, Himself!!                                               

Psalm 75:6 “For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.”                       

Romans 9:17 “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”                                                                                                                        

1st Peter 2:13-17 “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

(d) Obey the law unless that law requires that we disobey the Law of God!

Cf. Acts 5:29

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

RENDER TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S:

1. Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, are also citizens of God’s Kingdom!

Cf. Philippians 3:20-21

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

2. This also means that we have both rights and responsibilities:

– Rights

(a) All of God’s Promises!

(b) All of God’s Protections!

(c) All of God’s Provisions!

– Responsibilities

(a) Worship Him! (Including paying our Tithes, which is the immediate context of the passage)

(b) Become His disciple!

(c) Serve Him!

(d) Serve others!

(e) Make disciples of all peoples!

3. Our role as citizens of God’s Kingdom must always take precedence to our role as citizens of our Country!

AMEN!