We had an interesting discussion this weekend about taxes and tolls and who should pay what and how much to whom.
Mark 12:14-17 came up in the discussion (as it does whenever taxes are mentioned. It is where the Pharisees asked Jesus if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar…) as well as the associated teachings, and as I read it again and again, it dawns on me: it’s a trap!
(No… quite literally. It’s not so difficult to figure out. In verse 15, Jesus says: ”Why are you trying to trap me?”)
Unfortunately, we seem to also fall into the trap, because Jesus flipped the focus. This is not a teaching on taxes and finances but on our commitment to God.
Jesus asked them to bring to him a silver coin, a denarius, and asked whose image is on the coin? To which they replied: Caesar’s
And this is where it gets completely reversed because He used the same imagery that every Jew knew and spoke out loud: God created man in His own Image (Gen 1:27) We were created in the Image of God. The “Image of God” is imprinted on our lives.
Caesar’s image is on the coin, so give that to him, because it belongs to Him… but God’s image is on you. YOU belong to God. Are you giving yourself to God?
Jesus flipped the question on the religious leaders and was asking them directly: Is what you are doing, right here and right now in service of God? Are you completing God’s will and purpose for your life?
This is why the leaders were stunned. Not because he dodged a tax question, but because He spoke directly into their conscience and about their intentions.
Which begs the question: Am I doing and living completely in God’s will? Or am I trying to keep a little bit of myself, for myself?
”Jesus said, “Precisely. The coin bears the image of the emperor Caesar, so you should pay the emperor his portion. But because you bear the image of God, you must give to God all that belongs to him.”
And they were utterly stunned by Jesus’ words.“
(Mark 12:17 TPT)
Be absolutely blessed today as we go out living God’s calling for our lives!
