“Render to God and Caesar”
Mark 12:13-17

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost–Independence Day Observance—July 1, 2018

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

A few months ago, Terese and I started getting letters from the Internal Revenue Service, saying we owed extra taxes for 2017.  That didn’t seem right, but just last week our tax attorney finally got to the bottom of it.  Turns out our estimated payments had been misreported, so we really did owe.  This past Friday, as I was dropping a check in the mail, I thought of Jesus’ declaration in today’s Gospel Reading about paying taxes: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Beyond the question of paying taxes, there’s a bigger question Jesus is answering for us in today’s Gospel Reading: While we remain as his followers in this world, while we are waiting, either for us to be individually taken to glory, or for the end of all things, how are we to live out our faith in relation to the world?

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”  That is Jesus’ beautiful, simple formula for daily living your life in this world, while you wait for the next world: “Render to God and Caesar.”

This two‑fold division reflects the two kingdoms that Christians are part of while in this world.  On the one hand, Hebrews says, “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” Our true home is not in any city, state, or nation of this world. As Paul says in Philippians, “For our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Jesus put it this way, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

In this world you are only on a journey, a journey to the kingdom of heaven, which is your true home.  But, on the other hand, as long as we remain in this world, our Lord wants his followers to also be good citizens—really the best citizens—of the kingdom of this world.  Jesus sums this up in his beautiful, simple, divine directive: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Most important is rendering to God what he is due.  Render to God first of all your confession of your sins.  An old order of confession put it this way, “I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault.” 

Render to God your faith in his Son as your Savior from sin.  As the Scriptures say, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. . .  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. . .  Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. . .  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

Render to God your worship, as you are doing here this morning.  The book of Hebrews says, “Let us not give up meeting together,” and Paul says in Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Render to God your service.  As Paul says in 1st Corinthians, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  And Peter says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

Render to God your faithful stewardship of the material possessions he blesses you with.  As the Psalm says, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? . . .  I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving.”

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”  Most important is rendering to God what he is due.  But, our Lord also wants his followers to be good citizens—really the best citizens—of the kingdom of this world, to render to Caesar, the government in this world, what it is due.

The Bible actually has many passages about our duties as Christians toward the civil government.  Render to the civil government first of all your obedience. For, as Daniel declares in today’s Old Testament Reading, the civil authorities and government are not just a human institution, but actually divinely established by God: “He sets up kings and deposes them.”

In Romans, Paul very clearly expresses our duty as Christians to obey the civil authorities: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.” 

The only exception to obeying the civil government is if the government commands you to do what God forbids, or forbids you to do what God commands.  An example is in the book of Acts, when the Apostles are ordered not to preach about Jesus, and they reply, “We must obey God rather than men!”  But, except for that exception, Christ wants his followers to render obedience to the civil government.  As Peter says, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men.”

Render to the civil government your honor and respect.  As Peter says, “Show proper respect to everyone . . . fear God, honor the king,” and Paul says in Romans, “Give everyone what you owe him . . . if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

A special duty and privilege that we have as Christians is to render our prayers on behalf of the civil government and its leaders.  As Paul says in today’s Epistle Reading from 1st Timothy, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.”  That is why it is an ancient custom to include our nation and its leaders in our prayers during worship.

And, of course, as Jesus makes clear in today’s Gospel Reading, his followers are to render to the civil government our taxes.  As Paul says in Romans, “For the same reason you also pay taxes, because the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue.”

A final special duty and privilege that we have as Christian citizens under our form of government is to render to the civil government our participation, especially by voting, and other involvement in the governmental process. 

Our government certainly has many failings.  Those failings do not excuse us from our duty as Christian citizens.  On the contrary, our government’s failings make it even more important that we fulfill our God-given duties toward the civil government.

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” 

Render to God your confession of your sins;

Render to God your faith in his Son as your Savior from sin;

Render to God your worship, as you are doing here this morning;

Render to God your service;

And render to God your faithful stewardship of the material possessions he blesses you with.

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” 

Render to the civil government your obedience;

Render to the civil government your honor and respect;

Render your prayers on behalf of the civil government and its leaders;

Render to the civil government your taxes;

And render to the civil government your participation.

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”   That is Jesus’ beautiful, simple formula for daily living your life in this world, while you wait for the next world: “Render to God and Caesar.”

Amen.