“Render To God” (Mark 12)

Mark 12

This is a recap of our Bible Caller Club meeting on April 23rd, 2026 over this passage. If you want to join the club and attend future meetings and study with us via phone, click here.

1. What’s happening in this passage?

Mark 12 is all about the contrast between the religious leaders who don’t want to submit to Jesus’ authority, thus rendering to God the things of God, and a poor widow who gives all she has. The chapter starts with Jesus telling the parable of the vine-growers (1-12), about how the Jewish leaders had not yielded the fruit they should have, and instead are killing the Son. Jesus says how the vineyard (stewardship of God’s Kingdom), is being taken from them. This angers the religious leaders, and group after group challenges His authority. The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Him with a question about taxes (13-17). Jesus tells them to render to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to render to God the things that are God’s (their hearts). The Sadducees then challenge Jesus about the resurrection (18-27). He shows how God is the God of the living! Then, a scribe ALMOST understands (28-38) when he shows he understands that it’s all about loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus says he is not far from the Kingdom of God. Finally in this chapter, we see an example of someone who understands it’s not about outward appearance, but about the heart. A widow gives out of her poverty (41-44). Jesus says, because she was giving in this way, her gift was far more valuable than all the others. She had “rendered to God the things that are God’s.”

2. What is God revealing about humanity?

When we are not willing to render to God the things that are God’s we will go to any lengths necessary in order to hold on to authority. We will justify, ask entrapping questions, and seek to destroy God’s Kingdom in our lives. In this way, we become like the vine-growers whose opportunities to bear fruit for God’s Kingdom is stripped away and given to others. We become accomplices in the killing of the Son by rejecting His Kingship. On the other hand, when we, like the widow, seek to render to God of our hearts, we give more than all the others.

3. What is God revealing about Himself?

He is totally authoritative, and worthy of being King. He is not to be tested and tried in a way to subvert His kingship. He looks at the heart and not at the amount. He seeks for those who choose to humbly submit and offer their hearts to Him as King and will bear fruit for His Kingdom. Even if we reject His Kingdom, He is still the cornerstone (10).

4. How should our lives change?

Jesus asked whose image was on the coin. It was Caesar’s. Therefore, it should be rendered to him. But then Jesus says we must be willing to “render to God the things that are God’s.” But what bears the image of God? We do. Our hearts and souls. Jesus is calling us not to hold on to authority and prominence, but be willing to humbly submit to His Kingship and give Him our very hearts.