Mark 12 14

Mark 12:14 kjv

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?

Mark 12:14 nkjv

When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

Mark 12:14 niv

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 to Caesar or not?

Mark 12:14 esv

And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?"

Mark 12:14 nlt

"Teacher," they said, "we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us ? is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 14 Meaning

Mark 12:14 captures a moment of calculated deception where a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians confronts Jesus with feigned admiration. They begin by showering Jesus with hypocritical praise, acknowledging His integrity, impartiality, and truthful teaching of God's way. Their elaborate flattery serves as a strategic prelude to a trick question regarding the lawfulness of paying tribute tax to Caesar, aiming to ensnare Jesus in a theological or political dilemma regardless of His answer. The verse reveals their manipulative intent to trap Jesus either with Roman authorities for sedition or with the Jewish populace for theological compromise.

Mark 12 14 Context

Mark 12:14 is situated during Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, following His triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple. The preceding chapter depicts Jesus asserting His divine authority and engaging in conflicts with Jewish religious leaders (chief priests, scribes, elders). Mark 12 specifically records a series of carefully crafted challenges directed at Jesus' authority and teachings, including the parable of the tenants (Mk 12:1-12) which foreshadows the leaders' rejection of Him and their impending doom. Immediately preceding verse 14, Mark 12:13 specifies that the chief priests, scribes, and elders send the Pharisees and Herodians to trap Jesus in His words, acting as their emissaries. This political and religious alliance was unusual, as Pharisees were typically anti-Roman while Herodians were pro-Roman. Their shared opposition to Jesus underscored the depth of their fear and animosity. The historical context involves Roman occupation of Judea, where the poll tax to Caesar was deeply resented by many Jews, especially the nationalist groups, as it symbolized their subjugation and was seen as a violation of God's exclusive sovereignty over the land and His people.

Mark 12 14 Word analysis

• And when they were come: (Καὶ ἐλθόντες, Kai elthontes)

  • Signifies their deliberate, direct approach. It suggests a pre-planned mission to confront Jesus. This isn't a casual encounter but a delegation.

• they say unto him, Master: (λέγουσιν αὐτῷ Διδάσκαλε, legousin autō Didaskale)

  • "Master" (διδάσκαλος, didaskalos) means 'teacher'. This is a title of respect, frequently used for Jesus. However, in this context, it is profoundly hypocritical. They acknowledge His reputation as a teacher but harbor malicious intent, seeking to destroy Him.

• we know that thou art true: (οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ, oidamen hoti alēthēs ei)

  • "True" (ἀληθής, alēthēs) means genuine, truthful, sincere, unfeigned. The Pharisees and Herodians recognize, or at least strategically articulate, Jesus' widely acknowledged reputation for honesty. This phrase forms the core of their insincere flattery, designed to make Jesus lower His guard and speak candidly.

• and carest for no man: (καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός, kai ou melei soi peri oudenos)

  • Literally, "it does not matter to you concerning no one." This praises Jesus' impartiality. They commend Him for not being influenced by anyone's status, power, or opinions. This is an admission of His fearlessness and integrity, especially as compared to their own fear of both Roman and Jewish authorities.

• for thou regardest not the person of men: (οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων, ou gar blepeis eis prosōpon anthrōpōn)

  • "Regardest not the person of men" (οὐ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων): This reinforces the idea of impartiality, literally meaning "you do not look at the face of people." It’s an idiom, often used in the Old Testament, to describe God's impartiality—He does not show favoritism based on appearance, wealth, or status (e.g., Deut 10:17). They acknowledge Jesus mirrors God's just character in His dealings and judgments. This sets up the expectation that Jesus would give an unbiased, unvarnished answer to their trap question.

• but teachest the way of God in truth: (ἀλλ’ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ διδάσκεις, all' ep' alētheias tēn hodon tou theou didaskeis)

  • "The way of God" (τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, tēn hodon tou theou): A significant theological phrase referring to God's divine will, His righteous principles, or the path of life according to His commandments.
  • "In truth" (ἐπ’ ἀληθείας, ep' alētheias): Emphasizes that His teaching about God's will is authentically delivered, without compromise or deceit. This seemingly genuine tribute sets the stage for a question about legality and truth concerning divine and human authority.

• Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?: (ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ; exestin dounai kēnson Kaisari ē ou?)

  • "Lawful" (ἔξεστιν, exestin): Refers to what is permissible or legitimate, encompassing both religious and legal acceptability. This word defines the core of their entrapment: whether the action is legitimate in the eyes of God (Torah law) and Caesar (Roman law).
  • "Tribute" (κῆνσον, kēnson): A transliteration of the Latin census, referring to the poll tax, a direct annual head tax levied by Rome. For many Jews, paying this tax was not only an economic burden but a religious affront, as it involved recognition of Roman pagan rule and its claims, seemingly infringing on God's sovereignty over Israel. The coin used for this tax often bore the image of Caesar and titles declaring his divinity.
  • "Caesar" (Καίσαρι, Kaisari): The Roman Emperor (Tiberius at the time). The question forces a dilemma:
    • If Jesus said "yes," He would appear to condone Roman occupation and paganism, alienating the Jewish nationalists and undermining His spiritual authority among the people.
    • If Jesus said "no," He would be committing sedition against Rome, providing grounds for arrest and execution by the Roman authorities.
  • "or not?": This clear dichotomy underscores the trap; there is no perceived middle ground, forcing Jesus to choose one of two dangerous options.

• Words-group Analysis

• "And when they were come, they say unto him": This introductory phrase highlights the formal, organized nature of their approach, confirming it was not a casual query but a deliberate confrontation engineered to test Jesus.

• "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": This extended clause constitutes the bulk of their flattering speech. Its purpose is to butter Jesus up, creating an atmosphere of trust and sincerity before delivering the poisoned chalice of their question. Each element of praise—truthfulness, impartiality, and divine teaching—is itself a virtue, making the insincerity even more pronounced. Their acknowledgment of Jesus' deep virtues serves only their wicked purposes, intending for Jesus' own recognized character to lead Him into the trap.

• "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?": This direct, binary question, coming after such effusive (and insincere) praise, is the ultimate bait. It skillfully combines religious obligation (lawful according to God's law?) with political allegiance (tribute to Caesar?), laying a perfect trap. The contrast between their elaborate compliment and this stark question creates maximum tension.

Mark 12 14 Bonus section

The unusual alliance between the Pharisees (a devout, nationalist Jewish group often anti-Roman due to religious conviction) and the Herodians (a pro-Roman, politically pragmatic Jewish group) itself indicates the severity of their mutual opposition to Jesus. Their common enemy (Jesus) forged a temporary and otherwise unlikely coalition, emphasizing the existential threat they perceived Jesus to be to their established religious and political orders. This verse thus hints at the breadth of Jesus' challenge to the status quo and the desperate measures His adversaries were willing to undertake. Their use of "Master" and acknowledgment of His truthful teaching ("the way of God in truth") serves as an ironic testimony to Jesus' recognized authority, even from His most hardened opponents.

Mark 12 14 Commentary

Mark 12:14 serves as a dramatic prologue to one of Jesus' most iconic and brilliant answers. The carefully constructed flattery delivered by the Pharisees and Herodians underscores the malicious intent behind their seemingly innocuous question. They recognized Jesus' unique position, His perceived integrity and unbiased teaching, yet twisted these very qualities into tools for His downfall. Their initial praises were not expressions of genuine admiration or belief but a sophisticated stratagem to disarm Jesus and manipulate Him into giving a definitive answer that would alienate Him from either the Jewish people (by endorsing the hated Roman tax) or the Roman authorities (by advocating resistance). The question about the tribute to Caesar was a hot-button issue in first-century Judea, loaded with deep religious, national, and economic implications, making it an ideal trap. Jesus' immediate perception of their hypocrisy, as revealed in the subsequent verse (Mk 12:15, "But knowing their hypocrisy..."), highlights His divine insight, enabling Him to deftly navigate their deceptive ploy with profound wisdom. This verse perfectly sets the scene for Jesus to demonstrate His spiritual discernment and profound authority.