The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?(A)

13 (B)Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and [a]care about no one; for You do not [b]regard the person of men, but teach the (C)way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

But He, knowing their (D)hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it. 16 So they brought it.

And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, [c]“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to (E)God the things that are God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:14 Court no man’s favor
  2. Mark 12:14 Lit. look at the face of men
  3. Mark 12:17 Pay

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians(B) to Jesus to catch him(C) in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”(D)

And they were amazed at him.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens

38 (A)And an inscription also was [a]written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:38 NU omits written and in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(A)

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17 (A)Repay no one evil for evil. (B)Have[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, (C)live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, (D)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, (E)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

(F)“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but (G)overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:17 Or Provide good

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(A) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(B) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(C) 19 Do not take revenge,(D) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](E) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[b](F)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  2. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

39 (A)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found (B)to fight against God.”

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39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”(A)

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Graces of the Heirs of Grace

Remind them (A)to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, (B)to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

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Saved in Order to Do Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,(A) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,(B) to slander no one,(C) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

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For it is the God (A)who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has (B)shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Cast Down but Unconquered

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, (C)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

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For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a](A) made his light shine in our hearts(B) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(C)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay(D) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God(E) and not from us.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3

Pray for All Men

Therefore I [a]exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (A)for kings and (B)all who are in [b]authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and [c]reverence. For this is (C)good and acceptable in the sight (D)of God our Savior, (E)who desires all men to be saved (F)and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (G)For there is one God and (H)one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 2:1 encourage
  2. 1 Timothy 2:2 a prominent place
  3. 1 Timothy 2:2 dignity

Instructions on Worship

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,(A) intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority,(B) that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness(C) and holiness. This is good, and pleases(D) God our Savior,(E) who wants(F) all people(G) to be saved(H) and to come to a knowledge of the truth.(I) For there is one God(J) and one mediator(K) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,(L)

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