Mark 12:13-17 Render Unto God, That Which Is His

Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.

Hypocrisy and failure to believe is the main charge that Jesus had against the Temple leadership. They were so bound up in tradition that when the Son of God comes into their midst, the best thing they can do is to seek to trick Him! Can you even imagine that? Yet the come as wolves in sheep’s clothing, trying to entice Him to do something that their greedy minds would be satisfied with. Instead, Jesus opens the obvious door of truth and says plainly that whatever is owed to the King, give to the King. But whatever is owed to the King of Kings, in a like manner give him His due. Nobody can find any fault with that. Amen.

Daily Prayer: Father, too often our judgment is skewed and we seek after folly when truth is before us. Help us to recognize truth in spite of ourselves and to recognize the King of Kings above all else. In Your holy name I pray Amen.