Mark 12:17

17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.

Mark 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:17

And Jesus answering said unto them
Very wisely and pertinently,

render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's:
or "to the king, which are the king's", as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it:

and to God the things that are God's; (See Gill on Matthew 22:21);

and they marvelled at him;
at his wisdom and prudence in returning such an answer, which cut off all occasion against him.

Mark 12:17 In-Context

15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it."
16 And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's."
17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.
18 And Sad'ducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying,
19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.

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Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.