“Render to Caesar…” (Part 2 of 2)

In the Gospel of Mark in chapter 12 the Bible describes an encounter that takes place between Jesus and a group of Pharisees.

The Pharisees were known for being legalists and they were opposed to Jesus. They were trying to trap him with a question. Today on Truth for Life, Alistair Begg examines Jesus' response in a message titled, Render to Caesar.

So their approach is insincere. Their question is a hot potato. Then, thirdly, notice the teacher's response. The teacher's response. Jesus responds with two questions and a statement. First of all, a rhetorical question.

You will notice it there. Why put me to the test? Why put me to the test? Then he follows it up with a practical question. A practical question. The Roman denarius was a small silver coin, similar to a quarter, both in terms of value and size, perhaps a little smaller.

It was accepted as payment of taxes in Judea. Why put me to the test? Has anyone got a coin? Has anyone got a denarius, he says? Someone says, Yeah, I got one. They flip it to him, he takes it, he says, Let me look at it.

You can imagine the drama that is involved in this. They've all come together dispatched by the rulers. They're there with their beginning, with a nice flattering beginning. They've built up to their question.

They've stated it in categorical terms. And Jesus says, I don't know why you put me to the test. Has anyone got a denarius? And he takes the denarius, and he looks at it. They brought one. And he said, Hey, whose likeness is on this? And whose inscription is on this?

Turning it back and forth, presumably. And they said to him, Caesar's. Actually, at this point in history, Tiberius Caesar Augustus. And on the denarius coin was this designation, with his face, Son of the Divine Augustus. So in other words, this god with a small g that was represented on the coin was the son of further divinity. And on the back, there was a designation of him seated on a throne, wearing a diadem, and clothed as a high priest. And it actually said on the reverse of the coin, The High Priest.

Okay, so far, so good. Whose likeness and inscription is this? They said to him, Caesar's. What's Jesus going to say? Picture the scene as he says, Yes, pay the tax. Pay the tax. And we say, Well, that's not what he says. It's exactly what he says. It says, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

What have they asked him? Are you supposed to pay the tax or not? Should we pay it or not? Answer, Yes, pay the tax. Don't allow the fact that you know the phrase, Render to Caesar are the things that are Caesar's, you know, from watching it on the black and white TV.

Don't let it obscure what he's saying. They asked the question, Are we supposed to pay the tax or not? He says, Yeah, pay the tax.

Now, that must have absolutely excited them immediately. Jesus is saying, I'm not gonna give any place to the zealots who are gonna try and run a country within the country. I'm not gonna allow any of you guys to hang me with the notion that because you don't like what's going on in the Roman Empire, you're not gonna pay the taxes anymore. There are privileges involved in being part of the Roman Empire.

There are responsibilities involved in being part of the Roman Empire. Part of the responsibility is in paying the tax. Therefore, pay the tax. But before the questioners have the opportunity to run out down the street, shouting, He said yes, he said yes, he said yes, he immediately follows up and, to God, the things that are God's. Now, what is he saying here?

Well, this is what he's saying. On that coin that I asked for, you will find the image of Tiberius. He's the one who minted these coins. He's the one who put them into currency.

He has a justifiable right to the tax that accrues. But on your lives there is another image, stamped as clearly or more clearly than the image of Tiberius on the denarius, and that is the image of God who made you. So therefore, your commitment within the framework of the culture to the responsibilities that are represented in Caesar's tax are within the context of your ultimate responsibility to the living God who made you in his image. Now, remember that from the very outset, Jesus has explained to the people, The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news. Jesus is saying, I am the King, I am establishing my kingdom, and entry to my kingdom is by way of repentance and faith.

He's not deviating from that here. The specific question about tax is answered within the wider concentric circle of the individual's responsibility to bow beneath the kingly authority of Christ. If you like, we might say that Jesus is here putting politics in its place. Putting politics in its place. Putting an understanding of one's responsibility to the state within the ultimate understanding of one's responsibility to God. And—you must think this out for yourselves—it seems clear to me that if Jesus is putting politics in its place, that place is secondary and not primary.

Secondary and not primary. The issues of political freedom are not the ultimate issues of life. If political freedom was the be-all and end-all of what it was to live out your existence, then theirs is one miserable existence. But political freedom is not the primary issue. The kingdoms of this world are not the primary issue. It is the kingly rule of Christ. And when an individual, myself included, becomes preoccupied with the kingdom or the kingdoms of this world—so as to divert me from evangelism, so as to preoccupy me, so as to send me to bed at night stinking mad because everything has gone the wrong way as far as I'm concerned—what I reveal to myself is the fact that I have got these things reversed. That I have got what is secondary, and I've made it primary, and I've got what is primary, and I have made it secondary. You're sensible people.

You've got to think it out. That brings me to my final point. Their response—and our response—their response is in one sentence, "'And they marveled at him.'" "'And they marveled at him.'" Remember, their response earlier was, they just left him and went away. That was in verse 12, wasn't it?

There they just drift off. And here they go off down the street saying, "'It's unbelievable, isn't it? We thought we had him. We thought we had put the question together in the perfect way to make sure that he was trapped. Either he was going to incur the displeasure of the people, if he said yes, or if he said no, that he was going to raise the risk of the Roman authorities coming to get him as an insurrectionist.

But look what he's done to us. "'And they marveled.'" They marveled.

I wonder, have you marveled at God? Do you come here like this on Holy Alliance? Is this how you read your Bible? Is this how you think about things?

People tell me all the time it is. They write to me from the radio program, said, I heard your funny voice on the radio, and it annoyed me, and then I started to listen to you, and it annoyed me even more when I heard what you were saying. It makes me wonder why they're now writing to me, and I read on, and they're saying that we continue to listen to you so that we could find out just how wrong you are—so that we could finally write and tell you how your head is full of whistles and how you're full of nonsense. And most of the time they write to say, but somehow or another we discovered the very reverse to be true and that the Bible began to penetrate the shell of our rebellious hearts, and we've actually come to believe this Jesus. Well, that's where we started from. Is that where you've started from? You're here to examine him intellectually?

That's fine. But understand this, he examines you spiritually. He examines you spiritually. And maybe that little question, the rhetorical question, is your question today. Jesus is saying to you, where you sit, or within earshot of what I'm saying to you, Why put me to the test? Why put me to the test? In other words, why are you playing games with me? Why are you playing games with me? See, he says, Jesus, knowing their hypocrisy, said, Hey, you can't hide your lion eyes, and your smile is a thin disguise. That's what Jesus is saying. You can't come to me and play that game. Why put me to the test? Are you playing games with Christ? The games people play? Every night?

Every day? Never thinking what they say? Never saying what they mean?

Till you while away the hours in your intellectual ivory towers, and you find yourself covered up with flowers in the back of a black limousine? Don't play games with Jesus. Do not play games with Christ. He holds your life in his hands. Why do you put me to the test? Why are you playing games with me?

It's a good question, isn't it? Needs to be addressed. Don't try and trap him. There's no refuge from him. There is refuge in him.

This stone, if you do not take your stand upon it, this stone will crush you. Second observation, and I'll hasten through them. Secondly, political agendas take a distant second place when we become the disciples of Jesus. Political agendas take a distant second place when we become the disciples of Jesus. You're gonna have to do this for your homework, but I commend to you a quick glance at Luke chapter 6 and verse 15. When you get to verse 15 of Luke chapter 6, you will find that Luke is recording there the group of disciples who were the followers of Jesus at that point. And when you read through the list, you'll find all these different names, and one of the names is, of course, Matthew. Those of you who know your Bible know that Matthew's name was also Levi, and Levi was a tax collector. That Levi was working for the Roman authorities. That Levi was at the forefront of making sure that these taxes were paid properly and they were paid on time. He was the guy who was sending out those notices to check out the returns. You know a couple of names further on, and who'd you come up against? You'd come up against Simon. Simon, who's referred to in Mark as the Canaanite, is referred to as Simon the Zealot, in the Luke version. Simon the Zealot?

You mean the guy that said, There's no way in the world that I'm paying taxes? Do you know how bad this place is? I hate this place.

It's gone to pot. I'm not paying taxes. So now we've got big government in Matthew, we've got no government in Simon, and where do you find them united? The only place you'll ever find them united—in the kingdom of Christ. But as soon as either one of them makes their political agenda the issue of fellowship or friendship, then you've separated them once again. That's why I say to you that whatever my objectives, whatever my concerns, whatever my political designs, desires, whatever my economic theories, they have to be a distant second to my submission to the kingship of Christ.

It doesn't mean that I don't believe what I believe, but it means that I will not exalt to a position my belief in these things, so as to rob me of meaningful friendship and fellowship with those who have an entirely different perspective on the same subject. Thirdly, the passage also teaches us that there are limits. There are limits to the honor that is due to Caesar.

There are limits to the honor that is due to Caesar. Romans chapter 13, the opening verses, are there to remind us of our responsibility to the state. Acts chapter 5, verse 29, judge for yourselves whether it's right for us to obey the authorities here or to obey God. We're going to obey God.

Acts chapter 5 is there to point out to us that there are limits to the jurisdiction of the state. So, when Jesus takes the coin, and he says, Who's here? And they say, Caesar. He says, Well, you should render to Caesar what is due Caesar. What was due Caesar?

Tax. What was not due Caesar? Worship.

Worship. Caesar had his face on there as the pontiff maxim, as the high priest. In rendering to Caesar what is justifiably his, I am not called upon to render to Caesar what is solely God's. And that is why, when you think about this being read in the first century, when the early believers were taking the Gospel of Mark and reading it through, they were not reading it from the vantage point of our twenty-first-century democracy. They were reading it from within the framework of a Roman Empire that said to them, You must admit that Caesar is Lord. And they said, No, he is not Lord. Jesus is Lord. They said, You must admit that Caesar is Lord. Jesus can be a Lord, but he is not the Lord.

No, they said, Jesus is Lord. One day at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, and their voices die under the sound of the roar of the lion tearing them to pieces, because they are prepared to render to Caesar what is due Caesar, but they are unprepared to render him to him what is due to God alone. And whenever the state seeks to take the place of almighty God, then that insurrection is not only understandable but is demanded. And history bears testimony to it. And finally, the kingdom of Christ takes precedence over every other kingdom. Over every other kingdom. No matter how much we love where we're from, no matter how much we're thankful for all these things—as we all are, all of us, everyone without exception—ultimately, the issue is a kingdom in which Christ reigns, and it is made up of the nations of the world under his authority.

And that's why, when you read Revelation, John says, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. At a very base level, this helps me go to sleep at night. Because I am actually a political animal. I have to fight myself. I have to fight my tendency to join all the dots from my pulpit here. Those are my convictions. I'm not gonna use my pulpit to try and influence you in that way even if I could. But I still have to deal with everything that goes on in my head.

And it is this that helps me get to sleep. The kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. If history goes on for another two millennium, if we're at the infancy of humanity, rather than at the end of humanity, as every self-centered generation always believes, the older you get to death, the more convinced you are about the return of Jesus Christ. You know, well, it'll be the end any time now. I mean, it's… Yeah, we'll be wrapping the whole thing up. It's over, you know. No! We may be at the forefront of it.

We may be at the knife edge of this. Well, then, what's your courage? What's your confidence? How do you go to bed? How do you think about your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, your great-great-great-great- great-great-great-grandchildren in a world that you cannot even conceive? How do you go to sleep? The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.

Okay, I'm going to sleep now. In just a moment, we're gonna pause with Alistair Begg for prayer, so please keep listening. This is Truth for Life. Today's message is titled Render to Caesar. In closing his message, Alistair reminded us that the kingdom of Christ takes precedence over every other kingdom. Right now, as the public discourse is flooded with heated political conversations, it's comforting to know that God's rule is sovereign.

His kingdom will reign forever and ever. This is also one of the reasons we find comfort in looking at the history of the Puritans. The Puritans were a faithful group of believers who respected God's authority and demonstrated their humility in some amazing ways.

They burned with a deep love for God, for his word, and for his glory. Today we're making available a wonderful documentary that tells the story of the birth of the Puritan age. It's called Puritan All of Life to the Glory of God.

We'll send you the two DVD set when you request it, along with your donation to support Truth for Life. This documentary is powerful. The masterful storytelling in this film and the commentary from experts will help you come to know the Puritans in a way that your whole family will appreciate. Many of the Puritan leaders were prolific writers.

They wrote classic books that are still with us today, that were all about how we can bring glory to God. Again, the documentary comes on two DVDs. One DVD is the full-length documentary, the other contains special features. There's also a streaming link, if you'd rather stream the documentary. There are a number of pastors and theologians who are interviewed in this film, including Albert Mohler, Sinclair Ferguson, the late J.I.

Packer, and Kevin D. Young. To request your copy of the documentary on the Puritans right now, go to truthforlife.org slash donate, or tap the DVD image on the mobile app. You can also call 888-588-7884. To send your contribution, along with your request for the DVD in the mail, you can write to us at Truth for Life, PO Box 398000, Cleveland, Ohio 44139. Now here's Alistair to lead us in prayer. Father, help us to figure this stuff out. Save us from error. Save us from being unduly influenced by anything other than the truth of your Word and the glory of your Son.

We really need your help. These are critical days in our country. The decisions that are being made at the highest level have ramifications in the realm of family, in the realm of faith, in the realm of human identity, in the realm of medical ethics. So help us then, Lord, to be wise—wise as serpents, harmless as doves. Help us to take seriously our responsibilities in terms of all your Word says concerning the affairs of civil jurisdiction. And when the tide seems to go, from our perspective, most strongly against us, help us to keep our eyes on he who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and to him the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, who alone is immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him and to him alone be honor and eternal dominion, now and forevermore. Amen. Glad you have been able to join us today. Tuesday we'll hear Alistair describe another challenge from Jesus to tractors, this time from the Sadducees. You'll be encouraged by Jesus' masterful response to their challenge. I'm Bob Lapine. The Bible teaching of Alistair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life, where the Learning is for Living.