Renewing Your Mind: “God and Caesar” (Feb 15, 2026)
Podcast by Ligonier Ministries | Speaker: Dr. R.C. Sproul

Episode Overview

In this episode titled “God and Caesar,” Dr. R.C. Sproul examines the famous encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders over the issue of paying taxes to Caesar, as recorded in Mark 12:13-17. Sproul unpacks Jesus’ masterful response to a politically and spiritually loaded question, showing how Christ affirms both our civic and divine obligations—and challenges listeners to consider the true extent of God’s ownership over their lives.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Trap: The Alliance Against Jesus

• Text: Mark 12:13-17 – Pharisees and Herodians sent to challenge Jesus.

• The Sanhedrin—a governing body of Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes—delegates a group to interrogate Jesus.

• Notably, the Pharisees and Herodians, usually bitter enemies, unite in their opposition to Him.

  “The only thing that would provoke them to come together in a common cause was their mutual hatred of Jesus.” (05:13)

• The Greek verb for “catch” here implies a violent, destructive intent, not just entrapment, but to “destroy him with violence.”
  (06:27)

2. Question of Integrity and Hypocrisy

• Jesus’ interrogators first attempt flattery:

  “Teacher, we know that you are true and care about no one ... you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth.” (07:52)

• Sproul emphasizes their false praise yet notes their words are unintentionally true about Christ’s uncompromising integrity.

  “The person of integrity does not ever compromise principle for the sake of popularity.” (10:25)

• Their real motive is not to learn, but to trap Jesus on the contentious issue of taxes.

3. The Dilemma: Taxes to Caesar

• The question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” (12:11)
  • If Jesus says “yes”, He alienates the people.
  • If He says “no”, He can be accused of sedition.
• Paying taxes to a pagan, occupying power was loathsome to most Jews, and the Pharisees considered it a moral issue.

4. Jesus’ Response: The Denarius and Divine Ownership

• Jesus asks for a denarius (a Roman coin), pointing to Caesar’s image and inscription:

  “Whose image and inscription is this?” … “Caesar’s.” (17:01)

• Coins of Tiberius Caesar bore titles signifying divine status (“Son of the Divine Augustus,” “Pontifex Maximus”).

  “Here the image on this coin displays the unspeakable arrogance of the Roman Caesars.” (19:50)

• Jesus’ key statement:

  “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (20:43)

• Sproul unpacks this, explaining that while we honor earthly authorities, our ultimate allegiance belongs to God.

5. Biblical View of Church and State

• Sproul brings in Romans 13: Paul commands Christians to pay taxes and submit to the governing authorities.

• Distinction between the roles of church (sacraments) and state (power of the sword); each is under God’s sovereignty.

  “The Bible knows something of a separation of church and state … But the Bible knows nothing of the separation of state from God.” (22:07)

6. Modern Application: Statism and Conscience

• Sproul shares a conversation with Francis Schaeffer, who feared “statism”—the supremacy of the state over all spheres.

  “[His] greatest concern is statism … where the state becomes supreme. It owns everything, it rules everything, and is never answerable in any way to the church. That was his greatest fear.” (23:09)

• The current danger: The gradual surrender of the church’s moral voice in public life, and the increasing encroachment of the state into religious domains.

7. Ethical Challenge: Voting and Responsibility

• Sproul raises an “ethical question” seldom discussed: When we use our vote to benefit at our neighbor’s expense through government power, are we, in effect, stealing?

  “Anytime, beloved, that you can vote a tax on your neighbor that is not a tax on you, you’re stealing from your neighbor.” (25:01)

• Christians must never ask government to take from others for their personal benefit.

  “I must never ask the government to force my neighbor to give me something that belongs to him. Is that clear? I mean, is that simple?” (25:35)

8. Ultimate Question: Whose Image Do You Bear?

• Drawing toward spiritual application:

  “Whose image do you bear? Every person in this room has been stamped with an image by the supreme authority in heaven and earth. God Himself has placed his image on you, on me, and on every person.” (26:07)

• Conclusion:

  “Caesar can own that denarius, but he doesn’t own me. God owns me. … We should render to God the things that are His, which include our life, our liberty, our possessions, and our affection. It’s the duty of every Christian.” (27:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the deadly intent of Jesus’ interrogators:

  “They’re not just trying to play tag with Jesus and catch Him. They're trying to destroy him with violence.” (06:27)

• On Jesus’ integrity:

  “Public opinion will never cause Jesus to compromise. This is a tremendous tribute that the Pharisees and the Herodians are heaping upon Jesus before they sneak in their trick question.” (10:02)

• On the message for Christians:

  “God owns me. And God owns you. And in that ownership comes God’s supreme right to claim your life and everything in it for his own.” (27:05)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:00–01:20 | Introduction to the text and the conflict: The context, question, and challenge to Jesus.
• 06:27–10:30 | Analysis of the Pharisees’ and Herodians’ approach, language, and hypocrisy.
• 12:11–14:46 | The tricky question and its deep moral/political implications among first-century Jews.
• 17:01–20:43 | The denarius, Roman power, and Jesus’ iconic answer.
• 22:07–23:09 | Biblical principles of church and state; legitimate submission and God’s overriding sovereignty.
• 23:09–25:35 | The rise of statism and the importance of the church’s prophetic voice.
• 25:01–25:35 | On the ethics of voting and civil government.
• 26:07–End | Spiritual climax: The image of God, total allegiance, and Christian duty.

Conclusion

Dr. Sproul’s exposition of “Render to Caesar … and to God …” compels listeners to examine both their civic responsibilities and the deeper, ultimate reality: our whole being, stamped with God’s image, is owed to Him. By presenting legal, ethical, and spiritual challenges, Sproul encourages Christians to critically engage with issues of government, stewardship, and personal devotion—reminding us, “Caesar can own that denarius, but he doesn’t own me.”

For Further Study: Dr. Sproul’s full commentary on Mark is recommended for deeper exploration of these themes.