Mark 12:17

17 Jesus said, "Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his." Their mouths hung open, speechless.

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 He knew it was a trick question, and said, "Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it."

16 They handed him one. "This engraving - who does it look like? And whose name is on it?" "Caesar," they said.

17 Jesus said, "Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his." Their mouths hung open, speechless.

18 Some Sadducees, the party that denies any possibility of resurrection, came up and asked,

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to marry the widow and have children.