Mark 12:13-15

Amplified Bible

Jesus Answers the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes

¹³Then they sent some of the ^[a]Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to trap Him into making a statement [that they could use against Him].^(A) ¹⁴They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and have no personal bias toward anyone; for You are not influenced by outward appearances or social status, but in truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay the ^[b]poll-tax to [^[c]Tiberius] Caesar, or not? ¹⁵Should we pay [the tax] or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a ^[d]coin (denarius) to look at.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Mark 12:13 This was an unlikely alliance since the Pharisees were a strict religious sect while the Herodians were not religious and supported the rule of Caesar.
Mark 12:14 Every Jew was required to pay the poll-tax. It was considered a sign of subservience to Rome.
Mark 12:14 See note Matt 22:21.
Mark 12:15 A day’s wages for a laborer.