A Serving Leadership Insight from the Life of Jesus Christ (Mark 12:13-17)

“But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. ‘Why are you trying to trap me?' he asked. ‘Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.’ 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.” (See Mark 12:13-17 for full text)

In Mark 12:13–17, Jesus was challenged by his opponents on whether people should pay their taxes. Because his antagonists were a coalition of contrasting viewpoints it seemed certain that he would offend one or the other. However, Jesus responded with a both/and reply that avoided their trap. First, he requested that a coin be brought and then asked them whose image and inscription was on it. “Caesar’s,” they replied. Jesus then said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” It was a brilliant response that left them amazed. Jesus had escaped their trap, but he also had uncovered a much deeper issue. By calling them to radically obey God, in whose image they were made, Jesus exposed his adversaries’ real problem. They weren’t giving back to God what was truly his but pursuing their own selfish ends. Jesus went to the heart of the matter which for them was a matter of the heart.

KEY QUESTIONS: How does a “both/and” response wisely help me avoid getting trapped in certain situations? When is it not advisable? How might defending myself prevent me from focusing on a real issue or problem?