Deceptive Inquiries: Taxes and the Resurrection - Mark 12:13-27

Luke 20:20 A Question about PAYING taxes. Vs. 13-17 The POINT of the question is to entrap Him. Vs. 14b-15 Jesus is questioned by an official group of leaders. Who is involved in this question about paying taxes? It is Matthew’s gospel that reveals the players involved here. Matt 22:15-17 The PLACE of government in our lives is limited. Vs. 17b Jesus makes a statement that is the foundational statement for our own government’s view of taxes. Vs. 17b “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.“ It is the basis for what we call the separation of church and state. This phrase does not appear in the constitution, bill of rights or any Federal amendments. The phrase separation of church and state originated from Thomas Jefferson on January 1st, 1801.  Jefferson used this metaphor in a letter sent to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut.  Jeffe