Leviticus 11 & 12, Mark 12: 1-27, Psalm 37: 32-40
Mark 12: 15-17 (ESV)
“But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me
to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one.
And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to
him, “Caesar's.” 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.”
Verses 15 through 17 from Mark 12 are famous for Jesus telling
the Pharisees and Herodians that they need to pay taxes, because the Caesar’s
likeness and inscription was on the form of money that they used. In one Bible commentary
I read the author noted that since God’s image is stamped on us, we belong to
him and we need to give our selves to him. We need to pay taxes and to submit
to the government because we benefit from the government’s role in our lives. But
since we also belong to God, we must be careful to note when our submission to
the government infringes on our service to God. We can pay taxes to the
government and when needed die in service to our country but since we belong to
God, we need to live our lives for God. I like this interpretation of these
verses since it reminded me that I was made in God’s image. God’s image is stamped
on me like a coin, so I belong to him and my life belongs to him.
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