Mark 12:13-17

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words. ¹

14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

15 But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius ^[a] to inspect.”

16 So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.

17 Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

Cross References

• 1. (Matthew 22:15–22; Luke 20:19–26)

Footnotes

• [a] A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.