Mark 12:17

17 And Jesus answering, said to them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to God the things that are God's. 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 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see [it].

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

17 And Jesus answering, said to them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they wondered at him.

18 Then come to him the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

19 Master, Moses wrote to us, If a man's brother shall die, and leave [his] wife, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise seed to his brother.