Jesus answers a trick question about paying taxes to Caesar
Mark 12:13-17
The enemies of Jesus tried to trick him. If he said it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he would be shown to the Jews as a traitor. If he said tribute to Caesar was not lawful, he would be reported to the Romans. His answer led his enemies to marvel at him, and his words have been quoted for 2,000 years. Different interpretations of this passage, however, have been used to support widely diverse beliefs of the proper relationship between Christians and secular authority.
|
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 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 Caesar, or not? 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. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
|