Mark Reading Plan – W12D2
Week 12 | Day 2 | Mark 12:13-17
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
Thank God for something in your life and ask Him to speak to you through your reading and reflection today.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
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.
Reflection & Questions
Talk about a mic drop moment!
The Pharisees are still trying to catch Jesus in His words. Hadn’t they learned, yet?!
Indeed, even Jesus is trying to help them out, “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asks. As if to say – “You know you’re not going to succeed, right?”
They think they’ve got him this time though. Should we pay tax to Caesar or not? If he said no, then he was exposing himself to rebellion against Rome, and if he said yes, he was alienating himself from the Jews (who hated the Roman occupation).
Jesus’ replies: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” You can hear the mic drop. His reply was as clever as it was wise and truthful. Since Caesar’s image is on the coin, pay the tax. But whose image is on us as human beings? God! So give Him our entire lives – all our thanks, service, gratitude, worship, indeed everything.
- As you think about your priorities for the day, does it represent giving God our all?
- How could you increase your thanks and worship to God today?
Pray
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You could use this worship song to worship your Good Father today.
Bible Reading
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
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.
Reflection and Questions
Who should you listen to, your parents, or your teacher? Alright alright, that’s a bit of a trick question. The answer is both! Fine, let’s switch the question – who should you turn in your homework to, your teacher or your parents? Well, if you turn your homework into your parents, but your teacher never sees it, you’ll never get a grade for that homework assignment, will you? Now, we know for sure that your parents are in charge of you for everything that you do, right? But sometimes, there are other people that we need to listen to as well, and other people who are in charge of us for different things in life! The religious leaders here are questioning Jesus’ authority, asking Him who is REALLY in charge around here? You, or someone else? They were trying to trick Jesus into saying that they should never listen to the rulers, and then they could get Him in trouble for going against the government. Sneaky! But Jesus isn’t fooled at all, and tells them something similar to what we read above – there are people in your life who are in charge of you for different things, at different times! And we need to make sure that, while we always need to listen to the ones in charge of us, we are always listening to God the most. Think about it, who do you listen to at your sports practice, your sports coach, or your math teacher? Well your sports coach, obviously! But when you need help with a math problem, who do you go to? Well I think your math teacher makes the most sense there! We should always be respecting and listening to whoever is in charge of us, but do you know who is in charge of us more than anyone else? God! God is who guides our life and decisions the most, and He tells us to listen to Him first, and then the rest of the leaders in your life next. So really, when we listen to our leaders, we’re listening to God too. Pretty cool huh?
Prayer
Pray and thank God for putting leaders in your life, and having people who help teach us through all things.
Bible Reading
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
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.
Devo Focus
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Vs. 17
Devo
When Jesus makes his point to the Pharisees, it’s almost comical – talk about a mic drop!
The Pharisees are still trying to catch Jesus in His words. Hadn’t they learned, yet?!
Indeed, even Jesus is trying to help them out, “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asks. As if to say – “You know you’re not going to succeed, right?”
They think they’ve got him this time though. Should we pay tax to Caesar or not? If he said no, then he was exposing himself to rebellion against Rome, and if he said yes, he was alienating himself from the Jews (who hated the Roman occupation).
Jesus’ replies: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” You can hear the mic drop. His reply was as clever as it was wise and truthful. Since Cesar’s image is on the coin, pay the tax. But whose image is on us as human beings? God! So give Him our entire lives – all our thanks, service, gratitude, worship, indeed everything.
- As you think about your priorities for the day, does it represent giving God our all?
- How could you increase your thanks and worship to God today?
Prayer
Respond to the reading in prayer.
