Whose Image Do You Bear? Mark 12:13-17
“13) Then they *sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. 14) They *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15) Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” 16) They brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17) And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.” Mark 12:13-17
They were relentless in their attempt to find fault in Jesus. This time they sent some Pharisees and Herodians seeking to establish a charge of insurrection against the government. They always sent a small delegation that every charge might be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
This question related to paying poll-tax to Caesar. There was already a Jewish religious movement that rejected Roman rule over Israel and refused to pay taxes. They were trying to pin the blame on Jesus.
Knowing their malice and hypocrisy, Jesus wisely asked for a denarius. On one side was stamped an imaged of Caesar. Jesus held it up and asked; “Whose likeness or inscription is this?” The question was literally; “Whose image is this coin made after?”
The answer was obvious. It was minted in the image of Caesar. It was tenure of Rome. It was often used to pay poll-tax.
The next statement of Jesus silence and amazed the adversaries; “Render to Caesar the things that are Ceasar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
The parallel was unavoidable. People are created in the image of God. He is interested in people and not money. It behooves every person to seek God and not money, government or the world.
Every human was created in the image of God. We, like the coin are image bearers. Within us is a void in the shape of God. We are not complete until we are born-again and the Holy Spirit fills that void. We need to render ourselves to God! Only Jesus Christ can make us complete and full the inner void.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“13) Then they *sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. 14) They *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15) Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” 16) They brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17) And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.” Mark 12:13-17
They were relentless in their attempt to find fault in Jesus. This time they sent some Pharisees and Herodians seeking to establish a charge of insurrection against the government. They always sent a small delegation that every charge might be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
This question related to paying poll-tax to Caesar. There was already a Jewish religious movement that rejected Roman rule over Israel and refused to pay taxes. They were trying to pin the blame on Jesus.
Knowing their malice and hypocrisy, Jesus wisely asked for a denarius. On one side was stamped an imaged of Caesar. Jesus held it up and asked; “Whose likeness or inscription is this?” The question was literally; “Whose image is this coin made after?”
The answer was obvious. It was minted in the image of Caesar. It was tenure of Rome. It was often used to pay poll-tax.
The next statement of Jesus silence and amazed the adversaries; “Render to Caesar the things that are Ceasar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
The parallel was unavoidable. People are created in the image of God. He is interested in people and not money. It behooves every person to seek God and not money, government or the world.
Every human was created in the image of God. We, like the coin are image bearers. Within us is a void in the shape of God. We are not complete until we are born-again and the Holy Spirit fills that void. We need to render ourselves to God! Only Jesus Christ can make us complete and full the inner void.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
