INTRODUCTION (SECURE ATTENTION) & BACKGROUND OF THE PASSAGE:
PRAY before starting the sermon.
Over the centuries, Christians have struggled with the issue of the church and the state.
At one point in time, the Roman Catholics took over the state.
The Church controlled the State and the results were disastrous.
At other times, the State tried controlling the Church.
Even that is unfair as Christians are subjected to persecution.
As Christians, it’s not easy to live in a world where people around you don’t appreciate your faith.
In our country, our government is in many ways, anti-Christian.
How do we respond when we are in such a scenario?
Well, Jesus answers that question in today’s passage.
Would you take God’s Word and turn your Bibles with me to MARK 12:13-17 (READ)?
I have entitled today’s sermon as: “GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD!”
In 11:27-12:44 (refer), we read about the opposition Jesus encountered from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes.
In 12:13-17 (refer), the Pharisees along with the Herodians test him about taxation; in 12:18-27 (refer), the Sadducees test him about the resurrection; and in 12:28-44 (refer), the scribes test him on interpretation of Scripture.
So, we see that Jesus’ authority was challenged by the religious leaders constantly.
They kept testing him.
CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE TEXT: In this passage, Jesus teaches that we must fulfill our obligations towards Caesar, but more importantly towards God.
FALLEN CONDITION FOCUS: Already included.
THE PURPOSE BRIDGE: To encourage the members of EAGC to fulfill their obligations towards earthly rulers, and more importantly towards God.
CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE SERMON: I have used inductive proposition for this sermon.
I. THE PHARISEES AND THE HERODIANS’ ATTEMPT TO TRAP JESUS.
Refer verses 13-14.
A. Some of the Pharisees and the Herodians are sent to trap Jesus.
Read verse 13.
‘They’ can refer to the members of the Sanhedrin (refer 11:27).
Few representatives from both the Pharisees and the Herodians were sent to Jesus.
The Pharisees were separatists.
They were very meticulous in following the Law.
But they were legalistic and ended up putting unnecessary burden on the people.
We do not have much information about Herodians.
They seem to be connected to the Herodian family and thus supported the Romans.
Even in 3:1-6 (refer), the Pharisees watched Jesus closely so that they can accuse him.
Generally, both the Pharisees and the Herodians opposed each other since they had different ideologies.
But here, we find the opposing groups coming together to oppose Jesus, just as they came together in 3:6 (refer) to “destroy him.”
Even today, we keep seeing unlikely alliances among political parties.
Sometimes, they come together to defeat a common enemy.
That’s what happened in the recent by-polls in UP.
SP and BSP formed an alliance to defeat BJP.
Here, we see that the Pharisees and the Herodians formed an unholy alliance to somehow destroy Jesus.
It’s like the Left and BJP or the Congress and TDP joining hands together.
Since they were afraid to destroy Jesus because of his popularity among the masses (refer v. 12), they sought to “trap him in his talk.”
The word “trap” is from the Greek word agreuein, which implies violent pursuit.
B. They try to flatter Jesus.
Read verse 14.
Their intention was to trap Jesus, but they attempt to do this by flattering him.
Beware of people who flatter you.
Don’t take them too seriously.
Some flatter so that they can put down others.
The Pharisees and the Herodians say that they knew that he is true.
But when it came to John’s baptism, they plainly said, “we do not know” (refer 11:33).
If they really knew he is true, they would follow him, not trap him.
Since they witnessed that Jesus doesn’t bend to the corrupt religious leaders, they flatter him by saying that he didn’t care about anyone’s opinions.
They further say that Jesus is not swayed by mere appearances.
Rather, he truly teaches the way of God.
The Pharisees and the Herodians thought that by flattering Jesus, they can disarm him.
C. They ask whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not.
Read verse 14.
The Pharisees and the Herodians ask a brilliant and a tough question.
Since 6 AD, the Romans started ruling Israel directly and the Jews were made to pay taxes to them.
Some people who wanted to live quiet lives grudgingly paid taxes to the Romans.
However, a section of the Jews under the leadership of Judas of Galilee revolted against the Romans.
There was a lot of animosity among the Jews towards the Romans and their imposition of taxes.
Most of the Jews hated the Romans and hated to pay the taxes.
The Jews had to pay 3 kinds of taxes:
David Guzik says, “Three taxes were imposed by the Romans on Judea. The first was the ground tax, which was 10% of all grain [DHAANYAM] and 20% of all wine and fruit [PANDLAPAI]. The second was the income tax, which amounted to 1% of a man’s income. The third was the poll tax, paid by men aged 12 to 65 and women 14 to 65. This was one denarius a year, about a day’s wage for a laborer.”
The Greek word for taxes here is kenson.
Scholars say that the tax referred to here is the poll tax.
Barclay says, “It was the tax which everyone had to pay simply for the privilege of existing.”
Their question was simple and solid: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” (refer v. 14)
If Jesus agreed that it is lawful to pay taxes, then he would lose the support of people.
He would be seen as a traitor.
If he insisted that the taxes need not be paid, then he would be treated like the other Jewish revolutionaries and give the religious authorities an opportunity to accuse him.
Either ways, Jesus would be in trouble.
I assume that after asking this question, the Pharisees and the Herodians were smiling at each other with pride for asking such a hard question.
When I look at the world around us, I see that they are up to similar schemes.
There are many people who deliberately set traps for believers and pastors.
We need to be wise in dealing with people around us.
II. JESUS’ RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION.
Refer verses 15-17.
Well, the Pharisees and the Herodians thought they trapped Jesus.
But Jesus gave them a tremendous reply.
A. Jesus perceives their hypocrisy.
Read verse 15.
Jesus knew that these people were mere actors (cf. Mk. 7:6).
He asks them in exasperation, “Why put me to the test?”
Then he says, “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”
Probably, he himself didn’t possess a denarius (a day’s wages).
Most likely, the Pharisees or the Herodians had these Roman coins in their pocket.
B. Jesus asks them a question about the denarius.
Read verse 16.
Jesus asks, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
And they answered, “Caesar’s.”
On a denarius, Tiberius’s image would be there.
He was the emperor who was reigning during this time.
All the Roman emperors were known as Caesar.
Barclay informs us that: Round the coin there would be the title which declared that this was the coin "of Tiberius Caesar, the divine Augustus, son of Augustus," and on the reverse would be the title "pontifex maximus," "the high priest of the Roman nation."
Further, Barclay tells that people in Jesus’ time had three principles regarding the coinage:
1. Coinage is the symbol of authority and power. When a king conquered another nation, he would issue his own coinage.
2. The territory where the coin was valid proved that the king’s power was recognized by others.
3. Since a coin had the king’s face and inscription, it was considered to be the personal property of the king in some sense.
C. Jesus teaches that what belongs to Caesar must go to Caesar and what belongs to God must go to God.
Read verse 17.
David Guzik: Essentially Jesus said, “You recognize Caesar’s civil authority when you use his coins; therefore, you are obliged to pay him the taxes he asks for.”
Since we receive some benefits from the government, we are obliged to fulfill our responsibilities towards the rulers.
We have to submit to the government as long as they don’t require us to do something which is contrary to God’s Word.
Read Rom. 13:1-2; 6-7.
Read 1 Pet. 2:13-14.
Though we are ultimately the citizens of heaven, we have to fulfill the obligations of an earthly citizen too.
Commenting on this passage, William L. Lane states: {By recognizing the relative autonomy of the civil authority in the first part of his response, Jesus showed himself opposed to any belief in an essentially theocratic state and to any expectation of an imminent eschatological consummation of his own mission.
But by distinguishing so sharply between Caesar and God he tacitly protested against the idolatrous claims advanced on the coins.
There is always inherent in civil authority a tendency to reach beyond its appointed function, a tendency which leads to self-transcendence.
The temptation to self-glorification which always accompanies power was particularly clear in the extravagances of the imperial cult, with its deification of the state and its civil head.
Jesus emphatically rejected this insolent confusion between man and God; divine honors belong to God alone.
The second part of his response, seen in the total context of Jesus' life and teaching, shows that the duties toward God and Caesar, though distinct, are not completely separate, but are united and ruled by the higher principle of accomplishing in all things the will of God.
Because men bear the image of God they owe their total allegiance to him.}
The Greek word for ‘render’ is apodote, which can be translated as give back.
So, Jesus is saying give back the things that belongs to Caesar and the things that belong to God.
The coin bore the image of Caesar and thus it belonged to him.
We bear the image of God (refer Gen. 1:26) and we must give ourselves to him.
We are sealed by the Spirit (refer Eph. 1:13).
We must give our lives to God.
It’s clear that these people didn’t give to God what belongs to him (see The Parable of the Tenants in 12:1-12).
Jesus is asking these religious leaders to yield themselves to God as they didn’t fully give themselves to him.
God, not Caesar, has ultimate authority over us.
D. The Pharisees and Herodians marveled at Jesus (v. 17).
Even these learned men were amazed at Jesus’ reply.
They wanted to trap Jesus in his words but ended up marveling at his words.
They were clean bowled!
CONCLUSION (INCLUDING THE PROPOSITION, REVIEWING THE MAIN POINTS [OPTIONAL], AND ACTION STATEMENTS):
CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE SERMON: Submit to the authorities but give your life to God.
Unsaved brother and sister, have you given your life to God as yet?
If you didn’t, give your life to Jesus right today.
Saved brother and sister, have you truly given yourself to God?
Would you sign underneath a blank sheet and ask God to write your life story?
Surrender yourself to God and let him have the first word and the last word in your life.
IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SAVED, REPENT AND GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS RIGHT TODAY!
