Caesar, God, and You

Whose Likeness and Inscription Is This?

(Mark 12:13-17, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 29, 2019)

[13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” [15] But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” [17] Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? What is the story of your life? Is there a divine purpose that extends to you? What does your self-image have to do with Jesus?

The Agenda of the Religious and Civil Rulers

And they (see Mark 11:27) sent to him

Some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians

To trap him in his talk. (Contrast with wise men, Nicodemus, Zacchaeus: Luke 19:1-10)

The Flattering Setup and the Deadly Snare

“Teacher,

We know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion.

For you are not swayed by appearances,

But truly teach the way of God.

Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”

God With Us Speaks Flawlessly and Powerfully

Knowing their hypocrisy

“Why put me to the test?

Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”

“Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.”

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

THE POINT: Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible Father. He calls us to sincerely follow Him and thus to fulfill our destiny as image-bearers of the Lord our God.

Col. 1:15-17, Heb. 1:3, Gen. 1:27, Gen. 9:6, Is. 9:6-7, Acts 4:18-20

Applying these verses:

1. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's: Submit to lawful civil authority, but those authorities must decide for themselves whether it is right for us to obey them or God.

2. Render to God the things that are God's: You are not a mistake, but have a glorious destiny by creation and redemption, marked by birth, baptism, and the Holy Spirit.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 120 – A Person of Peace in a World at War

New Testament Reading—Romans 13 – Governing Authorities and the Lord Jesus

Colossians 1:15–17

[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:3

[3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Genesis 1:27

[27] So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 9:6

[6] “Whoever sheds the blood of man,

by man shall his blood be shed,

for God made man in his own image.

Isaiah 9:6–7

[6] For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[7] Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Acts 4:18–20

[18] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”