NOTES for Mar 12:17

The Pharisees asking the question to Jesus about the giving of tribute to Caesar, plan to accuse Him either as a dissident calling not to obey the government, or as a traitor of the interests of the Jewish people. Judging by the words of the Jewish leaders "we have no king, but Caesar", the Jewish religious leaders have already made their choice. It is necessary to say that it was a secret neither for the Jews, nor for Jesus, Who sees the heart of people. It is extraordinarily important for the human community which cannot subsist beyond the frame of a government the fact that Jesus refuses flatly to discourse in this domain.

His answer “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God’s" puts aside the problem of the state’s structure. It is important for the followers of Jesus to render to God what is God’s. So, only what is related to eternity, relationship with God has a real value. That is why the Church of Christ lives within any government and in any relation with government – from hostile relations in the Roman and Soviet Empires to the more close alliances in the Byzantine and Russian empires. Any form of relations with the government has its merits and demerits. But we are first of all called to answer before God of our relation with Him.

The duty of charity towards a neighbor remains unchanged for Christians in every era whatever relation the Church has with the government. The exploit of prayer does not change either. It is rather useful for us today to know that any relations with whatever governments are something important for the Christians, but not essential. Life remains life, and it is effectively the words of Jesus read today that give an authentic and perpetual dimension to life.