Is it lawful to pay taxes? Of course; it’s unlawful not to. Jesus was once asked that question; but he answered differently. Here’s Mark’s report of how it all started . . .
And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to trap him in his talk . 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. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not. Should we pay them, or should we not?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied (Mark 12:13-16).
Commentary on the text. “They” who did the sending were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish
Supreme Court. “Pharisees” were a sect within Judaism that had begun with deep devotion to God and his law, but over time became self-righteous legalists. To them, oral tradition about God’s laws was as weighty as the laws themselves. “Herodians” were primarily a political group in Judaism that supported the rule of the Herods.
Since 3:6 the Pharisees and Herodians had been plotting how to kill Jesus. Here they’re looking to maneuver Jesus into an anti-law answer that will give them grounds to arrest him. (Arrest is possible, because Israel was a theocracy where “church” and state were one.
First, they flattered Jesus, hoping to establish false-friendly feelings. Jesus was no fool. Neither was the gathering crowd in the temple courtyard. Mostly saw through their flimsy approach.
Second came the “gotcha” question. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar” was a “hot button” issue. Taxes were no small thing. Since Rome “annexed” Israel, Jews were forced to pay a 10% grain tax, a 20% wine and fruit tax, a 1% of-all-other-earnings tax and a one-denarius poll tax. That was especially egregious because Caesar’s image glared from one side of the coin and his titles “High Priest” and “Son of God” emblazoned the other.
They smugly assumed Jesus was snared. Answer “Pay taxes” and a riot would erupt. “Don’t pay taxes” and the Court would be sure the Romans heard the treason Jesus was spreading.
But Jesus knew—and let them know he did. When he asked for a denaius, a few sweat drops must have formed in their foreheads. And when he asked, “Whose portrait is this?” and they answered, “Caesar’s”, their stomachs must have shuddered.
Jesus’ Answer. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him (12:17). The denarius was Caesar’s; his image marked it as his property. However unjust the tax, his government had a right to it.
The crowd was amazed; Jesus was a verbal Houdini. More stunning than his escape tactics was Jesus’ affirmation of two kingdoms (governments) in the world. The government of man (Caesar’s) and the government of God. Jesus’ well-versed-in-Scripture audiences would have recognized that. And each government had its due. That leads us to a few final questions . . .
What Is God’s? The Roman coin obviously belonged to Caesar. What belonged to God? His audience would have thought sacrifices, obedience, worship, tithes, thanks, praise and worship. Pay Caesar his taxes, but give God your devotion!
Now let us be the audience. What is God’s? As followers of Jesus, what is God’s that we’re to give him?
We could correctly repeat the Jews’ answers. But that might be like thoughtlessly mimicking the answer we know the Teacher wants to hear.
How casually we repeat familiar Christian terms! How unmindfully we mouth weighty biblical words! We’re losing the ability to think deeply, so our lips speak religious jargon. We don’t even want to think deeply about biblical things. We want sermons that give us simple steps and lessons that quickly distill doctrines debated for centuries in the church.
Maybe Jesus knew his audience would immediately and rightly identify what was God’s to be given him. Or maybe he wanted them—and us—to think deeply and definitely about what is God’s to be given him. Here are four Scriptures to guide us.
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters (Psalm 24:1,2).
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19).
But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine (Isaiah 43:1).
You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19b,20).
One Final Thought. The last two Scriptures above and Jesus’ question, “Whose image is on the coin?”, lead us to this: Whose image is on us?
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