Mark 12:17

17 And Jesus answering said to them, Pay what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God. And they wondered 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 give, or should we not give? But he knowing their hypocrisy said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a denarius that I may see [it].

16 And they brought [it]. And he says to them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? And they said to him, Caesar's.

17 And Jesus answering said to them, Pay what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God. And they wondered at him.

18 And Sadducees come to him, that say there is no resurrection; and they demanded of him saying,

19 Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if any one's brother die, and leave a wife behind, and leave no children, that his brother shall take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.