Death And Taxes

Death and Taxes

Mark 12:13-27

In 1789, Benjamin Franklin said, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency.

…but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

Is that statement true; nothing is certain except death and taxes?

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:13 if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. NKJV

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our faith is empty and our faith in Christ is also void of the power to save us.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the Apostles were liars, instead of eyewitnesses, and we are still dead in our sins.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then death had power over Him, so He is not God in the flesh and if Jesus is not God, He cannot offer us eternal life and forgive our sins.

Please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark 12 as we continue in a verse-by-verse study of that Gospel.

Last time we studied the Gospel of Mark, Jesus used a parable about a vineyard to describe Israel’s rebellion against the Lord.

In the parable, the owner of the vineyard was patient with the tenant farmers as He sent messengers to collect rent.

But, because the landowner was not physically there, the vinedressers thought he would not retaliate against them.

Then we learned about Jesus being the chief cornerstone, who made the world, He was rejected by the world He created, but He will come back in victory some day!

The choice given to these religious leaders in the parable of the wicked vinedressers, is the same choice given to every person in this room, as well as to every person in the world.

Christ is our firm foundation and Cornerstone. Don’t reject Him.

Today, we will hear how the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus and the Sadducees asked Jesus about a question about the resurrection.

I. Enemies join forces to trap Jesus.

Read Mark 12:13-15a

The Pharisees were afraid of Jesus’ popularity, so they had not taken Him captive yet at this point.

The Pharisees and the Herodians were enemies. The Herodians were part of the family of Harod, and they supported Rome.

The Pharisees hated the Herodians because they were not Jews, and the Pharisees were against Rome ruling over them.

The Pharisees and the Herodians formed a temporary alliance against a common threat, Jesus; similar to what they did in Mark 3 after Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath.

Rome would strip both the Pharisees and Herodians of their positions if Rome heard about Jesus’ message and kingdom.

Notice the flattery they try to use in Mark 12:14, Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men but teach the way of God in truth.

John Trapp said, “Here is a fair glove drawn upon a foul hand... There are those who will smile in your face, and at the same time cut your throat.”

So, the question was: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

The Jews were forced to pay taxes to Rome. We actually have records of some Zealots at that time who refused to pay taxes.

When we think about the Apostle Matthew, we know before his conversion, he was a tax collector. Tax collectors were hated by other Jews and considered to be traitors of their country.

Matthew collected taxes on merchandise brought into the area as well as income taxes and other levies the Romans imposed.

Tax collectors collected extra money and kept it for themselves as a “commission” on the tax collected for the Roman occupiers.

Most people in Israel would pay the taxes grudgingly because it wasn’t just about the money, they hated the Roman oppression.

According to David Guzik, “Three taxes were imposed by the Romans on Judea.

The first was the ground tax, which was 10% of all grain and 20% of all wine and fruit.

The second was the income tax, which amounted to 1% of a man’s income.

The third was the poll tax, paid by men aged 12 to 65 and women 14 to 65. This was one denarius a year, about a day’s wage for a laborer.”

Notice the question from the religious leaders, “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

If Jesus said to pay the tax, He would have angered the people and admitted Rome had control over Israel instead of God.

If Jesus said not to pay the tax, He would be in danger of Rome arresting Him for being a criminal revolutionary like Barabas, so the religious leaders believed they had set the perfect trap.