Mark 12:17-23: a reflection

17Jesus answered them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him. 18Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 20There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. 21The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; 22and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

When asked whether to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus asks whose image is on the coin, and then says: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. The coin bore Caesar's image, and so was, in a sense, his; give it to him. But the deeper implication is striking: if what bears Caesar's image belongs to Caesar, then what bears God's image belongs to God. And we bear God's image; so we owe ourselves to God.

Notice the principle beneath Jesus' words: give to each what belongs to them, marked by whose image it bears. The coin bore Caesar's image, and so belonged, in that sphere, to Caesar. But we, made in the image of God, bear God's image; and so, by the same principle, we belong to God, and owe ourselves to him. Give to God the things that are God's: and what is more God's than we ourselves, who bear his image? We owe God not merely a portion, but ourselves.

That truth searches what we give to God. We can be willing to give God a portion, some of our money, some of our time, while withholding ourselves, as though we belonged to ourselves. But we bear God's image; we are his, and owe ourselves to him. Give to God the things that are God's; and you yourself, bearing his image, are his. Do not give God merely a portion while withholding yourself; give him what is truly his, yourself, made in his image and belonging to him. The coin bore Caesar's image and was rendered to Caesar; you bear God's image, and are to be rendered to God. Give God not just a portion, but yourself, who bear his image and belong to him, rendering to God the things that are God's, chief of which is you yourself, made in his image and owing your whole self to him.

Lord Jesus, when asked whether to pay taxes to Caesar, you asked whose image was on the coin, and said, give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. The coin bore Caesar's image, and so was his; but the deeper implication is striking: if what bears Caesar's image belongs to Caesar, then what bears God's image belongs to God. And I bear God's image; so I owe myself to God. Show me the principle beneath your words: give to each what belongs to them, marked by whose image it bears. I, made in the image of God, bear his image; and so I belong to God, and owe myself to him. What is more God's than I myself, who bear his image? I owe God not merely a portion, but myself. Let that truth search what I give to you. I can be willing to give you a portion, some of my money, some of my time, while withholding myself, as though I belonged to myself. But I bear your image; I am yours, and owe myself to you. Keep me from giving you merely a portion while withholding myself; help me give you what is truly yours, myself, made in your image and belonging to you. Help me render to you the things that are yours, Lord, chief of which is myself, made in your image and owing my whole self to you. I give you myself.