The Jews Challenge Jesus about Paying Taxes

Welcome to the Rapid Bull, daily edition, where we provide a quick biblical interpretations and applications. This is a ministry of striving for eternity.

Jesus Is Challenged About Paying Taxes in Mark 12

We see the first test in the way that the Jewish leaders tried to discredit Jesus in Mark chapter 12 by asking the question about who to pay taxes to in verses 13 to 17. Now the Pharisees and the Herodians get together to trap Jesus in his talk.

It's kind of interesting because the Pharisees and Herodians don't get along, but it does tell you something. People will get along when they have a common enemy. Their common enemy was Jesus, because he said he was God, which he actually proved.

And then he said that the things that the Jews held to, God was going to take from the Jews and give it to Gentiles. They didn't like that, so they try to trap him with a question. Who do we pay taxes to?

Should we pay taxes? Now the Jewish people would say we shouldn't because the Romans shouldn't be getting paid taxes when they are enslaving Jews. And they thought that Jesus would end up not having an answer.

They would either displease the Jews, or they could use it to get the Romans to come after Jesus for encouraging people not to pay taxes and causing insurrection. Well, Jesus answers in a way they didn't expect.

Render to Caesar What Is Caesar's and to God What Is God's

He says to look at a coin. Who made the coin? Rome? He said, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. In other words, the focus was to focus on that which is God's.

Give that to God. God doesn't care about these petty things that the Jewish leaders wanted. He wanted obedience of the heart, and that's what they weren't giving. But they focused on the here and now, the coin.

And Jesus said the heart was what God's focus is, and they had no answer.

This podcast is part of the Striving for Eternity ministry. For more content, or to request a speaker or seminar to your church, go to strivingforeternity .org.