Mark 12:16

The men gave Jesus a coin. He looked at it and said, “Who is this on this money? Whose picture is this? And whose name is this?” They said, “That is Caesar, the Roman government’s big boss.”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

In Context

15Jesus knew that if he said, “Don’t pay that tax money,” then he will be in trouble with the Roman bosses, and if he said, “Pay that tax money,” then he will be in trouble with the Jewish people. They wanted to be free from the Roman bosses. So Jesus said, “Don’t try to trick me. Have you got some money? I want to look at a coin.”

17Jesus said, “Well, you have to give Caesar and the Roman government whatever belongs to them, and you have to give God whatever belongs to him.” When they heard him say that they were all really surprised.

Read all of Mark 12

Matthew Henry on Mark 12:14-18

The Question Respecting Tribute. 13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And… Read the whole commentary →

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