Stamped

The leading priests and elders failed to trick Jesus into blasphemy when they questioned His authority, so they set another trap and recruit two other Jewish sects to help.

Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” (Mark 12:13-15, NLT)

Now, you have to understand the Pharisees and the “supporters of Herod” (also known as the Herodians) disagreed on everything. The fact that they were coming together to question Jesus would have tipped Him off before they had said a word.

The Pharisees were devout Jews who vehemently opposed Rome’s rule over their nation. The Herodians, on the other hand, supported Roman rule and its delegation of control over Israel to the Herodian dynasty.

Their single point of agreement was over Jesus.

The Pharisees wanted Him out because His teaching threatened their tradition. The Herodians wanted Him out because His claims to be King would threaten to their political status if Caesar caught wind of it.

“This is it,” they must have thought. “This time we’ve got Him. It doesn’t matter if He answer yes or no. Either way, we’ve got Him.”

See, if He said, “Yes, Jews should pay taxes to Caesar,” then the Pharisees would pounce. They’d accuse Him of religious compromise. They’d call Him a traitor to His Jewish heritage and faith. They’d drag Him before the crowd of men and women burdened by Roman taxes and make a spectacle of His support.

If He said, “No, Jews should not pay taxes to Caesar,” then the Herodians would pounce. They’d accuse Him of plotting against the government. They’d call Him an instigator and a rebel. They’d bring Him up on charges of treason.

Either way, He’d be out.

They clearly didn’t learn their lesson from the last time they tried to trap Jesus.

Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied. (Mark 12:16, NLT)

The Roman coin used in the tax was called a denarius. It bore the image of Tiberias Caesar and declared him to be the son of God.

Jesus hands the coin back and renders His verdict.

“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12:17, NLT)

Here’s His point.

Let Caesar have what is made in his image.

Let God have what is made in His image.

So God created human beings in his own image.
    In the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27, NLT)

You are stamped, as it were, with the image of God.

You were made by God and you belong to God.

So, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But give to God what belongs to God.

Give Him yourself.

Every sphere of your life.

Every part of who you are.

Read Mark 12:13-17 and prayerfully consider what parts of your life need to be given to God.