Biblical Studies/New Testament Commentaries/The Gospel of Mark/Chapter 12

Paraphrase
Some Pharisees and Herodians approach Jesus with a question regarding paying taxing in hopes of trapping him into saying something against God or Caesar. Jesus sees though their trickery and states wisely says “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”

Structurally analysis
_Pharisees and Herodians come to Jesus

_____They compliment him

__________"man of integrity”

__________“you aren’t swayed by men”

__________“you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth”

_____Then they ask “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

__________“Why are you trying to trap me?”

__________Jesus asks for a denarius

_______________He asks the crowd whose face is on it

____________________They respond “Caesar’s”

_______________Jesus tells the crowd to “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”

____________________The crowd is amazed

Commentary
Verse 13  The Sanhedrin adversaries from the previous parable continue their religious and political attack on Jesus. Here we see mention of Pharisees (teachers of the law) and Herodians (those who support government rule by the descendents of Herod, first mentioned in Mark 3:6). The word “catch” is one more often used to describe catching wild animals. This

Verse 14 The Pharisees and Herodians begin speaking to Jesus by calling him Teacher; this esteemed title was obviously used to hide then actually motives as we see later. They continue trying to soften Jesus right before they ask about paying taxes to Caesar. This question was formulated in attempts to force Jesus to choose a side for his Religion or for the Government. If Jesus was to claim that taxes must go to Caesar the people would hate him for they were very displeased by the Roman occupation and were in constant struggle. (Acts 5:37) However, if Jesus were to claim that taxes should not go to Rome he would surely invoke military action against him.

Verse 15 Jesus saw through their tricks and exposed it to the crowed by stating out loud “why are you trying to trap me?” Despite this Jesus decided to answer their question by use of a visual aid. A denarius which he requested is a small silver coin that is the chief currency of Rome from 211BC to the middle of the 3rd century AD.

Verse 16 The image on the silver denarius were probably that of Tiberius Caesar, who reigned from 14 to 37 AD, and the inscription followed something along the lines of “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augusts” and on the back “Chief Priest” These claims of divinity particularly angered Jews.

Verse 17 Jesus elegantly told the crowd to “give back” what belonged to Caesar, and then more importantly he told them to give to God: lit, “the things belonging to God.” This answer not only allowed him to escape from the Pharisees and Herodians trap, but also gave him a chance to stress the greatness of God over Caesar. It is possible that Jesus uses the word image for Caesar’s portrait so that it can be carried over to describing people as the images on God’s coins, because we are all created in God’s image (Gen 1:27) we must give to God what is God’s, ourself.

REVIEW
Mark 12 consists of seven distinct sections that deal with various teaching from Jesus. In these passages Christ is in dialogue with either his disciples, different teachers of the law, or various followers. Throughout the dialogues we see members of the crowd attempting to trick and test Christ, only to find Christ’s response amazing.

(v. 1- v.12) The chapter begins with “The Parable of the Tenants.” In this parable we find the story of a vineyard owner who has left his newly created vineyard to farmers. Once it is time for harvest the owner sends a series of servants to collect and retrieve the fruit. However at the arrival of each of these servants, the farmers beat or kill them. Finally the owner sends his only son believing that they will have to listen to him, but the farmers kill him all the same. Jesus explains that when the owner discovers what has happened he will of course have the farmers killed.

This is a direct correlation to the past and future events involving the death of Christ. The vineyard is creation and the farmers are us. God sends prophets to tell of Christ but they are sent away or killed (John the Baptist). Finally God sends his only son Jesus, but he is also murdered.

(v.12-v.27) Here we see two sections of scripture where Jesus is speaking in response to a question of the Pharisees designed to trap him. The first being on the imperial tax to Caesar where the question is brought up on how can we give everything to God if we must tax to Caesar, to which Christ replies by showing the face of Caesar on a gold coin and explaining how this coin was not ours to begin with and must be given back to Caesar to needed. Next we find the suppose predicament of what will happen in the afterlife if one woman marries seven men during her lifetime. Jesus replies that their understanding of heaven is grossly misunderstood and that if they had read the scripture they would know that in the afterlife there are no concerns of family and marriage.

(v.28-v.34) “The Greatest Commandment” is found in the center of this chapter and I feel it is by far the most significant section of this chapter. According to the story, a teacher of the law who is impressed with Jesus’ ability to give good answers asks Christ what the most important commandment is. Christ responds that it is to love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Next he continues to explain that the second most important commandment is to love your neighbor. Christ explains that these things are greater than burnt sacrifices.

I believe that this command to love God and people successfully summarizes what it means to be a Christian. I would go even father and state that the greatest way to achieve love for God is through love for people, and that our purpose as Christians or even humans is to love each other. (v.34-v.44) the chapter concludes with Jesus sharing a few more guidelines to live by. He warns those listing to him to be careful and not be as the teachers of the law who live in extravagant lives and flaunt their faith. A little later on he calls his disciples over and shows them a widow who is offering two small copper coins. Jesus explains to then that because she gave all she had, her gift is the greatest at the temple.