My Favorite Verses - Vol IV (Nov 16 to Feb 17)
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and often least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved
(and often least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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Mark 12:<strong>17</strong> … God and the Emperor<br />
(01/29/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“Give <strong>to</strong> the emperor the things that are the emperor’s<br />
and <strong>to</strong> God the things that are God’s”<br />
~ Jesus (Mark 12:<strong>17</strong>)<br />
While this verse has Jesus specifically speaking of paying taxes <strong>to</strong> the reigning<br />
government (and is thereby used by many a conservative Christian <strong>to</strong> champion the<br />
same), there are several deeper meanings at play here that needn’t be overlooked<br />
… First of all, what Jesus is actually saying here is not that we should focus on<br />
paying taxes, but rather that we should actually not worry about doing so. After<br />
all, taxes are clearly not “of God” in this particular scene, and Jesus makes it oh so<br />
clear elsewhere that we can only have one master – either wealth or God (see<br />
Matthew 6:19-24, Matthew 19:24-26, Luke 12:20, Luke <strong>16</strong>:13-15, as well as Matthew<br />
<strong>17</strong>:24-27) … Secondly, and even more importantly, it is worthwhile <strong>to</strong> remember<br />
that – for Jesus at least – God was the essence of perfect, unconditional Love<br />
(Matthew 5:48), and that as such we are <strong>to</strong> Love others with a similarly selfless<br />
purity -- at least if we ever wish <strong>to</strong> truly “give <strong>to</strong> God the things that are God’s”<br />
(see John 13:15-<strong>17</strong>, Matthew 7:21-27 et al).<br />
Amen ... Let it be so.<br />
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