Mk 12:13-17
13Some Pharisees and Herodians [were sent to Jesus] to ensnare him in his speech. 14They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” 15Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” 17So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.
You are a truthful man... you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. The Pharisees and Herodians are set to ensnare Jesus. They are ready to pounce on him. In the end, they are the ones caught and are utterly amazed at him! How does this happen? How does he turn the tables on them? Simple. He is a truthful man. He is not concerned about any man’s opinion. He does not regard a person’s status, but teaches the way of God in accordance with the truth.
We cannot rely on money or power or any weapon to be our defense in life. “Useless is the horse for safety,” says the Psalmist, “its great strength, no sure escape” (Ps 33:17). Only the truth will set us free. Only a pure heart and good intention can see us through. Seek no ill will, hide nothing, and favor no one—these are the marks of real good people. Jesus has another advantage—he has God as Father.