✨ Whose Image Is On You?

Mark 12:13–17

✍️ By Pastor Gary Boyd

💬 A Loaded Question

Imagine someone stopping you on the street with a microphone 🎤 and asking,

“Do you think Christians should pay taxes? Should believers obey the government even when they disagree?”

That’s not an easy yes or no question, is it? 🤔

And that’s exactly the kind of trap Jesus faced in Mark 12:13–17.

Two groups who could barely stand each other, the Pharisees and the Herodians, suddenly became best friends 😅 for one reason: to bring Jesus down.

They came to Him with smooth words and fake smiles, pretending to admire His wisdom, but underneath it all, they were plotting to trap Him. 🪤

Their question sounded harmless:

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

But it wasn’t really about money 💰. It was about loyalty.

It was about who has the right to rule your life.

🎭 The Trap Behind the Question

Jesus was caught in what looked like a no-win situation.

If He said “Yes, pay the tax,” He would upset the Jewish people who despised Roman rule.

If He said “No,” He would be accused of rebellion against the Empire. ⚖️

Here’s the background: the poll tax (Greek: kēnson) started when Rome took direct control of Judea in A.D. 6. It had to be paid with a denarius, a small silver coin with the face of Tiberius Caesar and the words, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus.”

For many Jews, that coin was blasphemous 😤. It claimed the emperor was divine and broke the commandment against graven images (Exodus 20:4).

So when Jesus asked for a coin, He was doing more than asking for change. He was exposing hearts.

They were pretending to be outraged about Roman control, but they already had Caesar’s image in their own pockets. 💸

🪞 The Image on the Coin

Jesus looked at the coin and asked,

“Whose image and inscription is this?”

They said, “Caesar’s.”

Then came the mic drop 🎤 moment:

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

That word “render” means “to give back what’s owed.”

In other words, if it bears Caesar’s image, it belongs to him.

But here’s where Jesus turns it.

If you bear God’s image, then you belong to God. 🙌

You were made in His image (Genesis 1:27).

His likeness is stamped on your soul.

His breath fills your lungs. 🌬️

So yes, pay your taxes. Be a good citizen. Respect authority.

But remember, Caesar may mint your coins, but only God made your heart. ❤️

⚖️ The Principle of Dual Allegiance

Jesus was not dodging their question. He was redefining it.

He was teaching that we live under two spheres of responsibility:

1. 🌍 To earthly authority — honor the law, pay what is due, live with integrity.
2. 🙏 To divine authority — worship God, obey His Word, and give Him your heart.

Paul later wrote in Romans 13:1–7 that government is part of God’s design.

But there is a line. When human rulers demand what belongs to God, that is where our allegiance to Him must stand firm. 💪

💡 The Real Question

Jesus’ enemies walked away in stunned silence, “they marveled at Him.” 🤯

But His question still lingers for us today:

“Whose image is this?”

The question is not just about coins.

It is about you.

It is about who owns you.

You and I were made in the image of God. ✨

So yes, give Caesar what belongs to Caesar,

but never forget, you belong to God.

Your wallet may carry Caesar’s image, but your soul bears God’s image.

And what bears God’s image belongs completely to Him. 💖

🏁 Bringing It Home

This story invites us to look inward:

• Have I given more attention to earthly demands than to heavenly devotion? 🤷‍♂️
• Have I allowed politics or culture to distract me from worship?
• Am I living like I belong to this world or like I belong to the One who made me? 🌅

Here’s the truth:

Earthly duties matter, but only when your ultimate devotion belongs to God.

The government may claim your taxes 💵,

but only God can claim your heart. ❤️‍🔥

🙌 Final Reflection

When Jesus held up that denarius, He was not just winning a debate. He was revealing a deeper truth that still frees hearts today.

He was saying:

“You live in this world, but you don’t belong to it. You belong to Me.”

So the next time you see a coin 🪙 or catch your reflection in a mirror 🪞, remember this:

You bear the image of God.

Give Him what He’s worth. 💗

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