In the final days of Jesus, His opponents used various means to attempt to discredit His teaching and malign His character. The questions they asked were not genuine desires to learn from Him or to clarify their understanding; the queries were not-so-cleverly disguised attempts to trap Him into saying something unintended that would make Him a political or religious enemy of some faction in Israel (Mk. 12:13). They wanted Him to demonstrate partiality or favoritism to one group so that He might become hated by another (v. 14).
That is exactly the scenario in the debate over taxes and civil obedience in Mark 12:13-17. The question is asked, “is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” (v. 14). While they thought the question would create a conundrum for Jesus, He stopped them with a simple response: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (v. 17).
This summary statement has caused much debate in the two millennia since the question was asked and answered, though it should be noted that the surrounding crowd didn’t have any question about what He meant as they “were amazed at Him” (i.e., His teaching, v. 17).
With this answer, Jesus is not saying that God is not interested in our money, or that His followers are not to give financially to God’s work. It merely stresses that God also has ordained government, and it is permissible to be supported by taxes. As one commentator has noted, “The answer implies: Yes, the tax must be paid. There must be an adequate response to privileges enjoyed. But though the emperor must receive his due, he must not receive more than that; that is, he must not receive the divine honor he claims. At the same time, God must receive all the glory and honor….” [Hendriksen, Mark.]
Furthermore, God’s primary desire is not for monetary gifts, but for hearts. This is the very thing He will say later in the chapter when answering another attempt to entrap Him, this time with the question, “what’s the greatest commandment?” (v. 28). And Jesus answered, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength’ (vv. 29-30).
With this declaration, Jesus is offering further explanation of His answer in verse 17, and also affirming the consistent teaching of the Old Testament (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22; Ps. 51:16-18; Hos. 6:6; Amos 4:4-5; 5:21-27; Micah 6:6-8; Mt. 9:13).
What does God desire from His followers and what does He deserve from them? Everything. The obligation to God supersedes that of the obligation to man’s government; every act of service and gratitude and honor and worship should be offered to Him with heart-felt and joyful obedience. Nothing should be withheld from the Lord.
What belongs to God? Our hearts. Our desires and motives. Our affections and love. What belongs to God? Only everything about us.
Words of Grace 