Mark 12:17

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's." The men were amazed at what Jesus said.

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 not?" But knowing what these men were really trying to do, Jesus said to them, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a coin to look at."

16 They gave Jesus a coin, and he asked, "Whose image and name are on the coin?" They answered, "Caesar's."

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's." The men were amazed at what Jesus said.

18 Then some Sadducees came to Jesus and asked him a question. (Sadducees believed that people would not rise from the dead.)

19 They said, "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, then that man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.