Mark 13:17 – March 22, 2026
“Pay Tax Unto Who?”
If you have lived in Chicago for any length of time, you probably know how much many people around here are involved with politics.
My mother, God rest her soul, was a volunteer for the League of Women Voters. She wanted to get as many people involved in the political process as possible. Even though politics was sometimes crooked, and sometimes politicians played dirty, still – my mother had great integrity, and she wanted to get as many people involved in voting and in democracy as possible.
The people of the first century did not have that option. The Roman Empire had all the power at that time, and Rome was certainly not a democracy. The Jewish people were under the heel of Roman occupation, and every Jew knew it. Plus, like any large bureaucracy, the people who worked for the Roman empire and the Roman occupation had its bad apples and crooked employees. Just like many political bureaucracies throughout the centuries.
Sure, the Roman empire had its governors, and its tax collectors, and most importantly its garrisons of Roman soldiers to make sure everything in the provinces was kept in order. And, a very large part of that order was convincing the local population to pay taxes to Rome. Which is where our narrative begins: two separate factions of Jews are both trying to catch the Rabbi Jesus in a big boo-boo. Something that would get the Rabbi Jesus in big trouble with the Roman authorities. These two groups – factions – opposing teams, if you want to think of them that way – are the Pharisees and the Herodians.
These two groups or factions are not friendly with each other at all. However, both of these groups want to discredit Jesus! They want to make the Rabbi Jesus look bad, and if possible, get Him in trouble with the Roman authorities!
Let’s take a look at what the Gospel of Mark says. The Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday has just happened. Jesus has entered the City of Jerusalem, and the stakes are higher than ever. Let’s listen to how Mark sets up this interaction:
“They sent some of the Pharisees and some supporters of Herod to trap him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, ’“Teacher, we know that you’re genuine and you don’t worry about what people think. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay taxes or not?’”
I want everyone to be sure we all understand. The Pharisees are the ultimate, strict rule-keepers. They not only keep every rule or Law in the Mosaic Law Code themselves, but they are ready and eager to shake their fingers at any Jew who does not keep all of the rules! And then, we have the supporters or followers of Herod. Some translations call them Herodians. These are more secular Jews, more lax in the rule-following department.
Let’s hear what these two groups ask Jesus, again: ’“Teacher, we know that you’re genuine and you don’t worry about what people think. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay taxes or not?’”
“So, here are two parties whose only point of agreement is their fear and hatred of Jesus. The Pharisees object to the tax on religious grounds. The Herodians support it on political grounds.” [1] And, both factions wanted to get the Rabbi Jesus in big trouble!
This seemingly straight-forward question is a trap! If Jesus answers, “Yes! We all must pay our taxes.” Then, the strict rule-following Pharisees will be mad at Him for putting something before God, who is over all! However, if Jesus answers, “No! We can’t pay taxes to an outside, foreign and pagan government!” Well, then, the Roman empire and occupation will come down hard on the Rabbi Jesus for fomenting radical and treasonous activity! Telling people not to pay taxes? Lock up this upstart Rabbi! He’s preaching rebellion and civil disobedience!
As is so often the case in dealing with suspicious or downright angry groups of people, our Lord Jesus has great finesse. He is able to read the room. And actually, our Lord is helped by His Godly ability to discern the intentions of people’s hearts.
Listen to what Mark says in the follow-up to this question: “Since Jesus recognized their deceit, he said to them, ‘Why are you testing me? Bring me a coin. Show it to me.’ 16 And they brought one. He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. 17 Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ His reply left them overcome with wonder.”
So many times, these responses of Jesus are absolutely on the money! (see what I did there?) Seriously, these responses of Jesus are so on the mark, they absolutely flabbergast the people interrogating Jesus.
As the Rev. Alyce McKenzie says, “The trouble is that we want blueprints and prescriptions. We want someone to tell us what to do and think. To know that Jesus is still available, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, to guide us in evaluating our own and others’ motives and making decisions about our allegiances and priorities may not be specific enough for our tastes.” [2]
This whole subject of taxes is a matter of jurisdiction. We see the coin, and can hold a depiction of Caesar. Caesar clearly has staked out his realm in this visible world. However, God’s realm is very different. I hope many people do not criticize me for turning all touchy-feely, but that is exactly what Jesus is saying repeatedly in His description of the Realm of God. He does not give a definition of the Kingdom or Realm of God right here in this particular reading from Mark, but Jesus certainly does in other parts of Mark chapter 12!
Let us go a bit further down in Mark 12, to verses 28-34. This is where the Rabbi Jesus tells everyone which the most important feature of the Kingdom – the Realm of God. Jesus tells us what is the Greatest Commandment in the Law of Moses. Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s it. That is all. Love God, first and foremost, and love your neighbor – any neighbor, near or far, of any nationality, any language spoken, any faith tradition, any other similarity or difference – love your neighbor as yourself. Period. That commandment encompasses the Law and the Prophets. That is rendering to God what is God’s.
The issues of today may be weighty, indeed. Plus, we all can hold up the heavenly values we see our Lord Jesus consistently live. “We all can look for God’s work beyond our community, and the places we normally expect God to be. We can call each other back to God’s word and promise and charge that we are each made in God’s own image and likeness and are therefore called to live in a way that others may detect the family resemblance.” [3]
Could we consider our situation in the modern day? Instead of squabbling about nonessentials, with some television preacher or self-help book telling us all what to do or think, what blueprint to follow or which prescription to take, why don’t we all consider loving God, and loving our neighbor. Period.
That’s the way to follow Jesus. Amen.
(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!
[1] https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2011/10/state-vs-god-alyce-mckenzie-10-10-2011
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://www.davidlose.net/2017/10/pentecost-20-a-image-likeness-and-identity/
Pastor, Preacher, Pray-er 