Give to God What is God’s

Spiritual opposition never seems to end. Of all such interactions, this response from Jesus amazes me the most, “Give to God what is God’s.” Often, He ignored His critics. At other times, He boldly confronted them. Sometimes, He was gentle and inviting. Frequently, He pointed straight to the deeper issues of the heart. How deluded to think anyone could outwit the One who holds all wisdom and knowledge — who hears and understands even unwhispered thoughts! Again and again, they tried their corporate best to discredit Him.

Every parent discovered the difficulty in convincing a child to loosen their grip on something clenched in tiny palms. Whether through persuasion or force, it became a battle of wills. They resisted every parental attempt to protect them from inevitable harm. Even though it would be for their good, they defiantly refused to release their white-knuckled hold. Such obstinate refusal often lasts long after childhood, however.

At one point, the religious leaders surrounded Jesus. They tried to “catch him” in a trap of words over whether or not people should pay taxes to Caesar. As they built their accusation against Him, they clung tight-fisted to bulging pockets of Roman currency.

Jesus’ brilliant response silenced them.

“They brought the coin, and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? and whose inscription?’
‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.
And they were amazed at him.”
Mark 12:16-17

Brilliant! Right? More brilliant, perhaps, than we initially fathom!

Whose Image

We don’t always see through the false fronts of accusation. Initially they appear innocent and well founded. Were the religious leaders genuinely concerned about protecting Caesar’s reputation and financial best interests? Hardly! We need only look at the preceding verse.

“Then the chief priest, the teachers of the law, and the elders looked for a way to arrest him …”
Mark 12:12

Smooth talk and flattery couldn’t hide their devious agenda. They looked for a way, anyway, to have Jesus arrested and put out of the public view. The Message Bible says that they were hoping “to bait him … to catch him saying something incriminating.”

Jesus exposed their ruse. “Whose image is this?” He asked.

To answer the question, we must go back to the beginning — the very beginning.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27

God’s only Son stood before them — His identity secure — created in God’s holy image and anointed with divine purpose. They focused on the bait, a single Roman coin. He pointed them higher. “Whose image is this?” Jesus asked the question to anyone listening, then and now.

Whose image do we bear? Is it the image of the world? Its power, position, or wealth? If it is, we belong to the world. But, if we bear the image of Jesus — His resemblance and likeness — then we belong to Him. There is no middle ground. Jesus calls us to willingly and fully give to God what is God’s!

Whose Inscription

Authentic Roman coins held both the image of Caesar and an inscription verifying its identity and value. In the same way, believers bear the image of God, confirming them as His representative image to the world and carrying His inscription.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them. After those days, says the Lord: ‘I will imprint My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will inscribe them [producing an inward change].'”
Hebrews 10:16

The inscription of God’s holy Word written upon a believer’s heart and mind validates them and produces an inward change visible through their outward actions and words.

What have we intentionally buried in our hearts? Is it the inscription of God or that of the culture we occupy? Our hearts determine the way we feel, think, and respond? Whatever we fill our hearts and minds with will inevitably show.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11) the psalmist wrote. The inscription of God’s Word protects and guides us. What a good reason to give to God what is God’s.

Transformation

With God’s image and bearing His inscription, we move toward complete transformation. This transformational change comes from hearts of flesh, soft and responsive to the Spirit’s direction. We begin to possess an internal desire to fervently obey God. Unlike stubborn or rebellious children, we recognize the loving wisdom of our Father loosening our grip on things that will harm us.

As we acknowledge the image and inscription with which we have been designed, our consciences seamlessly align with His will and ways. Authentic relationship between our faithful Father and His beloved children replaces religious performance and dead rituals.

Could God’s design become any more perfect? Never!

As we continuously turn to God and His Word, He engraves His truth within us, giving us increased wisdom and discernment. Our minds and hearts become forever forged in united connection with Him.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.'”‘
Mark 12:17

Oh beloved! May we open wide our hands, releasing our grip on things that will ultimately destroy our relationship with God and damage our Christian witness. May we trust His absolute brilliance and design, as we humbly bear His image and inscription to those around us. Today, may we decide to fully give to God what is God’s. Let go, beloved! Let go of whatever we are desperately holding on to before it is too late.

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