The image reveals the owner.
Sermon Title: THE IMAGE OF THE COIN
Sermon Text: MARK 12:13-17 (ESV)
Sermon Series: THE JERUSALEM MINISTRY
By: PTR. NESTOR SY
Sermon Notes:
Mark 12:13-17 ESV
And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
I. THE TRAP, OUR POSTURE
When approval matters too much, flattery works. When fear dominates the heart, pressure shapes our responses. But when belonging is settled, wisdom can show us the way.
Wisdom is not demanded in a moment; it is formed over time as we walk with him.
II. THE REDIRECT, OUR WORSHIP
“likeness | Greek: eikón | “image, icon”
“render” | Greek: apodidómi | “to repay, to render, give, pay back” It is the language of returning something to its rightful owner.
God’s people can honor earthly authority without betraying spiritual allegiance.
It’s possible to give what belongs to Caesar – our work, love, influence, families, etc. – but still give to Caesar what belongs only to God.
Reflect:
In my life, where am I faithfully ‘rendering’ what is due?
And where have I accidentally started ‘worshiping’ the thing I’m supposed to just pay?
We are called to be a responsible tenant in a world that is not our ultimate home.
III. THE REAL IMAGE, OUR RETURN/SURRENDER
Reflect:
If I truly believe I bear the eikón (image) of God, what parts of my life am I currently handling as if they were mine alone?
It isn’t about trying harder to be good enough for God. It’s about remembering whose we already are.
We’ve all rendered our allegiance to lesser gods.
If I bear God’s image, then my life is not something I donate, it’s something I return.
The call to “render to God what is God’s” is not a heavy demand from a distant landlord. It is a loving invitation from your Creator and Redeemer to come home.