What does Jesus mean by "Render to Caesar" and "to God"?

Jesus is shown a coin with Caesar’s image on it. When he says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” he is separating earthly duty and God’s higher claim. The coin bears Caesar’s image, so paying taxes is part of ordinary civic life. But people bear God’s image, so their worship, loyalty, and obedience belong first to God. He avoids the trap of choosing one side and instead shows that you can respect rulers without letting them take the place of God in your heart and life.

Why did the Pharisees and Herodians ask about paying tribute to Caesar?

The Pharisees and Herodians did not come as honest seekers. They came “to catch him in his words.” If Jesus said, “Do not pay,” they could report him as a rebel against Rome. If he said, “Pay,” they could accuse him of being disloyal to Israel. They even flatter him by calling him “true” and saying he does not fear people, but their plan is to trap him. Jesus knows their hypocrisy and exposes it by making them produce the coin and answer whose image is on it, then giving a reply that leaves them amazed and without a charge.

What does this passage teach about the resurrection of the dead?

The Sadducees deny any resurrection and try to make it look foolish with a story about a woman who married seven brothers. Jesus tells them they are wrong because they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. He explains that when people rise from the dead, they will not marry, but will be like the angels in heaven in that way. He then proves that the dead rise by quoting God’s words, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, so the patriarchs still live to him and there will be resurrection.

Why does Jesus say the Sadducees "know not the scriptures, neither the power of God"?

The Sadducees think their clever story shows that resurrection cannot work. Jesus answers that their whole approach is wrong. They do not really understand what Scripture says about God’s ongoing relationship with his people, and they limit what God can do to what they can imagine. By saying they know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God, Jesus shows that their unbelief comes from ignorance and unbelief, not from intelligence. God is able to raise the dead and give them a different kind of life, where marriage as we know it no longer applies. Their mistake is both about God’s word and God’s ability.

What is the first and greatest commandment according to Jesus here?

When the scribe asks which commandment is first of all, Jesus answers with the confession, “The Lord our God is one Lord,” then says that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This means God deserves our whole inner life and all our powers, not just outward religion. Jesus then joins a second command: love your neighbour as yourself. He says there is no other command greater than these. The scribe agrees that such love is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices, and Jesus tells him he is not far from the kingdom of God, because he sees that love is at the heart of God’s law.

Why does Jesus say the scribe is "not far from the kingdom of God"?

This scribe starts out testing Jesus, but when he hears Jesus’ answer about the greatest commandment, he openly agrees and even repeats it in his own words. He sees that loving God and neighbour is better than all outward sacrifices by themselves. Jesus notices that this man answers wisely and with some honesty. By saying, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God,” Jesus encourages him. He shows that understanding the place of love and seeing through empty ceremony is a step toward truly belonging to God’s rule. Yet “not far” also hints that he still needs to enter fully by trusting and following Jesus himself.

What does it mean that in the resurrection people are "as the angels"?

Jesus says that when people rise from the dead, they “neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.” He is not saying people become angels, but that in this respect they are like angels: they do not marry. Earthly family patterns and marriage do not continue in the same way in the world to come. This answers the Sadducees’ trick question, because their story assumes that future life is just like this one. Jesus teaches that resurrection life is different, shaped by God’s power, with relationships ordered in a new, heavenly way that we cannot fully see yet.

Why does Jesus ask how Christ can be both David’s son and David’s Lord?

After answering their questions, Jesus asks his own: how can the Christ be called the son of David if David himself calls him “Lord”? He quotes the words, “The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand.” David, speaking by the Holy Spirit, calls the coming Christ his Lord, even though the Christ would come from David’s line. Jesus is leading them to see that the Christ is more than just a human king from David’s family. He shares God’s authority and sits at God’s right hand while his enemies are made his footstool. The common people enjoy hearing this, but the leaders are confronted with who Jesus really is.

Why does Jesus warn, "Beware of the scribes" in this passage?

Jesus warns the people to beware of the scribes because of their proud and greedy behaviour. They like to walk in long, impressive garments, enjoy public greetings, and take the best seats in synagogues and feasts. On the surface they look holy, even saying long prayers, but Jesus says they “devour widows’ houses.” They use their position to gain from the weak while putting on a show of piety. He says such people will receive greater judgment. This warning teaches that religious leaders are not to be copied just because they have a role. Outward show without real justice and mercy is very serious in God’s sight.

How can this passage guide how believers relate to authority and religion today?

This passage shows Jesus holding both civil duty and God’s rule in their proper place: give rulers what belongs to them, but give God what belongs to him above all. It calls believers to know Scripture well and to trust God’s power, rather than mocking or doubting truths like the resurrection. It reminds us that love for God and neighbour is more weighty than outward religious acts on their own. It also warns against copying leaders who love status, clothing, or titles while they harm the weak. Instead, believers are called to sincere devotion, honest dealings, and a heart that puts God and neighbour before self.

Mark.12.13

Mark 12:13

KJV

And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Cross References

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