Debts to God and the Government (Mark 12:13-17)

What do you owe to the government? What is your patriotic duty? And does it change based on what country you live in, the quality of the government, or whether you are a Christian or not? 

These questions are all behind our passage this week from Mark 12:13-17, when Jesus tells his listeners to "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." 

This week at Grace, we'll look at the cultural background behind Jesus' provocative words, the context in which he spoke them, and how to apply them to our lives today. 

Hope to see you Sunday at Grace!

In Christ, 
Pastor Bob

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13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 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.

- Mark 12:13-17