Mark 12:13-17 | Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
DAILY PRAYER REQUEST: Lord, may we know you more clearly, love you more deeply and follow you more closely.
DAILY THOUGHT: GIVING TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD
(MARK 12:13–17)
“Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” What does this verse mean for us? Surely, it cannot mean that we must split our lives into two parts – the “religious” part and the “social” part. This would mean that Christ-followers can never critique any political or economic policy, however oppressive or corrupt they may be. Certainly this verse about giving to God what belongs to God opens up many questions. Did Jesus mean that because we are made in the image of God, we owe all of our lives to God and we need to surrender them totally and completely to God in the same way that we need to pay taxes to the government because that is what is due to them? This could certainly be part of what Jesus meant. Let us pray that God will help us to understand what is at the heart of this command that we may give ourselves fully to our true Servant-King.
DAILY PRACTICE:
Begin with the daily prayer request. Read the full story in which this command by Jesus is placed. (Mark 12:13–17) Reflect on your life today: What “parts” of your life do you tend to keep from God? How may God be inviting you into a fuller surrender of your life at this moment? Cup your hands, as if you were holding your whole life in them, and abandon yourself to God with these words: “Into your hand, Lord, I commit my life.” Throughout the day, especially in challenging situations, repeat this prayer again.