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Jesus Answers the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes

13 Then they sent some of the [a]Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to trap Him into making a statement [that they could use against Him].(A) 14 They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and have no personal bias toward anyone; for You are not influenced by outward appearances or social status, but in truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay the [b]poll-tax to [[c]Tiberius] Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay [the tax] or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a [d]coin (denarius) to look at.” 16 So they brought one. Then He asked them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were greatly amazed at Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:13 This was an unlikely alliance since the Pharisees were a strict religious sect while the Herodians were not religious and supported the rule of Caesar.
  2. Mark 12:14 Every Jew was required to pay the poll-tax. It was considered a sign of subservience to Rome.
  3. Mark 12:14 See note Matt 22:21.
  4. Mark 12:15 A day’s wages for a laborer.

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