Mark 12:15

15 Which witting their privy falseness, said to them, What tempt ye me [What tempt ye me, hypocrites]? bring ye to me a penny, that I [may] see.

Mark 12:15 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:15

Shall we give, or not give?
&c.] They not only ask whether it was lawful, but whether also it was advisable to do it, that they might not only accuse him of his principles, but charge him with persuading, or dissuading in this case. These words are left out in the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions:

but he knowing their hypocrisy;
expressed in their flattering titles and characters of him, and which lay hid in their secret designs against him; which being thoroughly known to him,

said unto them, why tempt ye me: bring me a penny, that I may see
it;
what it is, that is required for tribute; (See Gill on Matthew 22:18), (See Gill on Matthew 22:19).

Mark 12:15 In-Context

13 And they sent to him [And they send to him] some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to take him in word.

14 Which came, and said to him [Which coming say to him], Master, we know that thou art soothfast, and reckest not of any man; for neither thou beholdest into the face of any man, but thou teachest the way of God in truth. Is it leaveful that tribute be given to the emperor [Is it leaveful to give tribute to Caesar], or we shall not give?

15 Which witting their privy falseness, said to them, What tempt ye me [What tempt ye me, hypocrites]? bring ye to me a penny, that I [may] see.

16 And they brought to him. And he said to them [And he saith to them], Whose is this image, and the writing above? And they say to him, The emperor's [They say to him, Caesar's].

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, Then yield ye to the emperor those things that be the emperor's; and to God those things that be of God. And they wondered of him. [Forsooth Jesus answering said to them, Therefore yield ye to Caesar those things that be of Caesar, and to God, those things that be of God. And they wondered on him.]