Mark 12 15

Mark 12:15 kjv

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.

Mark 12:15 nkjv

Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it."

Mark 12:15 niv

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."

Mark 12:15 esv

But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."

Mark 12:15 nlt

Should we pay them, or shouldn't we?" Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, "Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you."

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 15 Meaning

Mark 12:15 describes Jesus' immediate perception of the true, malicious intent behind the question posed by the Pharisees and Herodians regarding taxes to Caesar. They presented a seemingly innocent, religiously-charged query, but their real aim was to entrap Him and force Him to incriminate Himself. Jesus, through divine discernment, recognized their feigned piety and exposed their "hypocrisy," thereby dismantling their cunning snare before it could even begin to unfold as they intended. He confronted their deceitful motive, demanding they show Him the coin in question, which implicitly challenged the premise of their manipulative question.

Mark 12 15 Context

Mark 12 is situated in the final week of Jesus' life in Jerusalem, following His Triumphal Entry and temple cleansing. The preceding verses (Mk 11:27-12:12) show various Jewish authorities, including the chief priests, scribes, and elders, repeatedly challenging Jesus' authority, leading into His parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Mk 12:1-12) which strongly condemns their rejection of God's Son. The immediate context of Mark 12:13-17 involves a strategic coalition formed against Jesus: the Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to the Law and opposition to Roman rule (in theory), and the Herodians, a political party supportive of the Herodian dynasty and, by extension, Roman rule. Their question about paying taxes to Caesar was a sophisticated trap: a "yes" would make Jesus appear disloyal to Israel and a collaborator with Rome; a "no" would brand Him as a rebel against Roman authority, punishable by death. The stage is set for a direct confrontation between human cunning and divine wisdom.

Mark 12 15 Word analysis

• But He (καὶ αὐτός - kai autos): "But He" indicates a shift or contrast from the previous narrative, highlighting Jesus as the central, proactive figure. The Greek emphasizes "He Himself," conveying His active and self-aware engagement with the situation, not merely a reaction. It implies His distinct identity and authority.
• knowing (εἰδώς - eidōs): From the verb "oida," meaning to know, to perceive, to understand, often by intuition or supernatural insight rather than empirical observation alone. This isn't mere conjecture or guessing, but deep, comprehensive awareness of another's inner thoughts and intentions. It points to Jesus' divine attributes – omniscience and the ability to search hearts (cf. Jer 17:9-10). He fully discerned their hidden agenda.
• their hypocrisy (τὴν ὑπόκρισιν αὐτῶν - tēn hypokrisin autōn): "Hypocrisy" (hypokrisis) in ancient Greek referred to acting, playing a part, or putting on a facade, like an actor on a stage. It denotes insincerity, deceit, and pretense, especially feigned righteousness or good intentions to mask ulterior motives. The Pharisees and Herodians pretended to seek spiritual guidance or clarification, while inwardly they sought to entrap and destroy Him. Jesus penetrated this outward show to their core deceit.
• said to them (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς - eipen autois): A direct, authoritative statement. Jesus confronts them verbally, bringing their hidden agenda into the open, a stark contrast to their indirect and deceptive approach.
• "Why are you testing Me?" (Τί με πειράζετε - Ti me peirazete): This is a powerful rhetorical question exposing their motive. "Testing" (peirazō) implies tempting, proving, or trying to trap with malicious intent. It is often used in the context of tempting God (as in the wilderness temptations, or Ps 78:18). By calling out their testing, Jesus reveals that He recognizes their attempt to "test" His allegiance or authority, seeing through their religious façade. He acknowledges the grave spiritual nature of their action.
• "Bring Me (φέρετε μοι - pherete moi): A direct imperative command, asserting His authority and shifting the interaction from a verbal trap to a tangible demand that sets up His counter-move. It forces them to act according to His instruction.
• a denarius (δηνάριον - dēnarion): The common Roman silver coin, the daily wage for a laborer, bearing the emperor's image and inscription. This specific coin is crucial as it directly relates to the payment of the poll-tax to Caesar, and its image carries the very symbolism Jesus would use in His answer.
• that I may see it (ἵνα ἴδω - hina idō): The purpose clause indicates Jesus' reason for asking for the coin: not because He didn't know what a denarius was, but to physically introduce the object that would be central to His masterful teaching. He requires them to bring the instrument of their intended trap into full view, using their own object against their scheme.

Mark 12 15 Bonus section

The question about tribute money in Mark 12:14 ("Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?") presented an impossible human dilemma designed to either implicate Jesus as a rebel (if He said no) or alienate the populace (if He said yes). The genius of Jesus' response, initiated by His call for the denarius, transcends the binary choice and elevates the discourse. His insight into their hypocrisy allowed Him to see beyond the superficial question to the destructive spiritual intent behind it. This interaction exemplifies how divine wisdom not only disarms malicious intent but also transforms a worldly trap into a revelatory teaching moment that continues to instruct believers on their dual allegiance to earthly authorities and to God. It highlights the difference between human cunning and divine wisdom that sees through facades to the heart of the matter.

Mark 12 15 Commentary

Mark 12:15 serves as a profound demonstration of Jesus' divine insight and masterful wisdom in the face of cunning opposition. His immediate and unhesitating "knowing their hypocrisy" cuts to the very heart of the conflict. It's not merely political or theological disagreement, but an exposure of insincerity and malicious intent hidden beneath a cloak of religious concern. Jesus’ ability to perceive their inner motives reveals His omniscient nature and His unique authority as the Son of God. He doesn't just guess; He knows. This divine insight allows Him to dismantle the meticulously planned trap by revealing its true nature ("Why are you testing Me?") before engaging with the question itself. His request for a denarius isn't for personal clarification but is a strategic move to turn their instrument of entrapment into a tool for teaching an eternal truth. It forces their own hands, using what is clearly "Caesar's" as the visual aid for His iconic reply. This moment underscores that earthly traps cannot ensnare divine wisdom; instead, they serve to further reveal it.