Jesus
answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.
Mark 12:17
Mark 12 [16.] They brought it.
He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
Mark 12 [17.] Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
They marveled greatly at him.
Mark 12 [18.] There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”
Meaning:
The Pharisees and Herodians had tried to trap Jesus with the question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Mark 12:14). He had asked them for a denarius and made them say whose image and inscription were on it: “Caesar’s” (Mark 12:16). Now comes his answer, one sentence that silenced his opponents and has guided believers ever since in their duty to governments and to God.
- “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”
To “render” is to give back what is owed. The coin was Caesar’s coin, and those who used his money, roads and courts owed him the tax. So Jesus did not side with the zealots who refused to pay. Paul later taught the same: “Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:7). Peter wrote, “Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).
Jesus himself paid the temple tax, though free not to, “lest we cause them to stumble” (Matthew 17:24-27). Believers are also to pray “for kings and all who are in high places” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
- “And to God the things that are God’s”
This second half is the heart of the saying. Caesar may claim a coin that bears his image, but he may not claim what belongs to God. Human beings bear the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and so our hearts, lives, worship and final loyalty belong to him alone. The coin went to Caesar; the person holding it belonged to God.
This put a limit on Caesar. The emperor’s coin called him divine, but Jesus would not give him what is God’s. When a ruler demands worship or obedience against God’s command, believers must refuse, as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did: “we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:18). Paul describes what we owe God: “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1).
The answer also judged the questioners, who worried about a coin for Caesar while refusing God what was his. In the parable they had just heard, the farmers would not give the owner his share of the fruit (Mark 12:1-9).
- “They marveled greatly at him”
The trap had failed. Jesus had neither rejected Roman taxes nor betrayed God’s rule. Yet amazement is not the same as faith: before the week ended the same leaders would accuse him before Pilate (Mark 15:1-2).
The Significance of Mark 12:17
- Be a faithful citizen
Paying taxes and respecting authorities are part of Christian obedience, for God gives governments a real, limited role (Romans 13:1).
- Give God what bears his image
The deeper question is not what we give the state, but whether we give ourselves to God. Our time, money, bodies and hearts all belong to him.
- God comes first
When the claims of Caesar and of God clash, God’s claim wins. No earthly power can own the conscience of someone who belongs to God.
Cross-References:
Romans 13:7: "Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching.
1 Peter 2:17: "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." Respect for rulers under the fear of God.
Matthew 22:21: "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." Matthew’s record of the saying.
Daniel 3:18: "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up." Where loyalty to a ruler must stop.
Conclusion: Jesus answered the trap about taxes by saying, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” The coin bearing Caesar’s image could be paid back to Caesar, so believers owe governments taxes and respect. But people bear the image of God, and so they owe God their whole lives and highest loyalty. His questioners marveled at his answer, and his words still call us both to be faithful citizens and to give ourselves completely to God.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible