MARK 12:13-17

MARK 12:13-17

MARK 12:13-17 - The question of the tribute-money was a live one throughout Palestine. To pay this tax was a tacit acknowledgment of Rome’s authority, something which was thoroughly repugnant to Jews of strong nationalistic feeling. The Herodians and some others advocated this recognition of the imperial government because of special favor they hoped to get by their subservience.

It was not any desire to know the right or wrong of the matter that led the representatives of the two opposed schools of thought to put the question to Jesus, “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” Despite their flattering way of addressing Him they were only setting a trap for Him, hoping to ensnare Him into saying something that would give occasion either to accuse Him to their Roman overlords as an advocate of sedition, or to make it appear to the more intensely patriotic Jews that He had no sympathy with them in their yearning for deliverance from the Roman yoke.

 He saw into their hearts and knew exactly why they had come to Him. His reply manifested this: “Why tempt ye Me? Bring Me a penny (that is, a denarius) that I may see it.”

When they handed one of the coins to Him, He inquired, “Whose is this image and superscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Thus they fell into the pitfall they had digged for His feet, and they were amazed at His answer, and were silenced so far as that subject was concerned.