Mark 12:15
in Mark 12But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why make ye trial of me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it.
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.
⋯
This verse in Mark 12
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWe have said elsewhere of the Herodians, that they were a certain new heresy, who said that Herod was the Christ, because the succession of the kingdom of Judah had failed. Others however say that the Herodians were the soldiers of Herod, whom the Pharisees brought as witnesses of the words of Christ, that they might take Him, and lead Him away. But observe how in their wickedness they wished to deceive Christ by flattery; for it goes on: Master, we know that thou art true.
This site's exposition
to catch him in his words
on Mark 12:13-15
They send Pharisees and Herodians together to catch him in his words, an alliance of natural enemies, nationalist and collaborator, united only by their common target. Their flattery, thou art true, and carest for no man, is calculated to close every escape before the trap question lands, is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, a question that made either answer politically dangerous. Jesus, knowing their hypocrisy, exposes the trap by naming it before answering, why tempt ye me, and calls for a coin.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
But knowing their deceit, he said to them: Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so that I may see it. And they brought it to him. Wisdom always acts wisely, so that the tempters are rather confounded by their own words: Bring …
Concerning the Herodians, we have said elsewhere that this was a certain newly-appeared sect of people who called Herod the Christ, for the reason that in his time the succession of Jewish kings came to an end. But others say that the Herodians here refers …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Shall we give, or not give?.... They not only ask whether it was lawful, but whether also it was advisable to do it, that they might not only accuse him of his principles, but charge him with persuading, or dissuading in this case.
The circulation of the money is from him as the fountain, and therefore it must return to him. As far as it is his, so far it must be rendered to him; and how far it is his, and may be commanded by him, is to be judged by the constitution of the government, according as it is, and hath settled the prerogative of the prince and the property of the subject.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
Let us observe in the beginning of this passage, how men of different religious opinions can unite in opposing Christ . We read of "Pharisees and Herodians" coming together to "catch our Lord in His words," and perplex Him with a hard question. The Pharisee was a superstitious formalist, who cared for nothing but the outward ceremonies of religion. The Herodian was a mere man of the world, who despised all religion, and cared more for pleasing men than God.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
Let us observe in the beginning of this passage, how men of different religious opinions can unite in opposing Christ . We read of "Pharisees and Herodians" coming together to "catch our Lord in His words," and perplex Him with a hard question. The Pharisee was a superstitious formalist, who cared for nothing but the outward ceremonies of religion. The Herodian was a mere man of the world, who despised all religion, and cared more for pleasing men than God. Yet when there came among them a mighty teacher who assailed the ruling passions of both alike, and spared neither formalist nor worldling, we see them making common cause, and uniting in a common effort to stop His mouth. It has always been so from the beginning of the world. We may see the same thing going on at the present day. Worldly men and formalists have little real sympathy with one another. They dislike one another's principles, and despise one another's ways. But there is one thing which they both dislike even more, and that is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. And hence, whenever there is a chance of opposing the Gospel, we shall always see the worldly man and the formalist combine and act together. We must expect no mercy from them — they will show none. We must never reckon on their divisions — they will always patch up an alliance to resist Christ. Let us observe, for another thing in this passage, the exceeding subtlety of the question propounded to our Lord . His enemies asked him, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, the Roman emperor, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" Here was a question, which it seemed at first sight impossible to answer without peril. If our Lord had replied "Give," the Pharisees would have accused him before the priests, as one who regarded the Jewish nation as under subjection to Rome.
Shall we give, or shall we not give? - This is wanting in the Codex Bezae, and in several versions.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁ | ho | (15) <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εἰδὼς | eidos | knowing | ||
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπόκρισιν | hupokrisin | hypocrisy | G5272 → | |
| εἶπεν | eipen | He said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| αὐτοῖς· | autois | to them; | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τί | ti | Why | G5101 → | 563 times |
| με | me | Me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| πειράζετε; | peirazete | do you test? | G3985 → | 37 times |
| φέρετέ | pherete | do bring | G5342 → | 66 times |
| μοι | moi | Me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δηνάριον | denarion | a denarius | G1220 → | 16 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἴδω. | ido | I may see [it]. | G1492 → | 374 times |
Ὁ(15) <the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
εἰδὼςknowing
eidos
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ὑπόκρισινhypocrisy
hupokrisinG5272 →
εἶπενHe said
eipenG2036 →925 times
αὐτοῖς·to them;
autoisG846 →5565 times
τίWhy
tiG5101 →563 times
μεMe
meG3165 →1936 times
πειράζετε;do you test?
peirazeteG3985 →37 times
φέρετέdo bring
phereteG5342 →66 times
μοιMe
moiG3165 →1936 times
δηνάριονa denarius
denarionG1220 →16 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἴδω.I may see [it].
idoG1492 →374 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 10:9We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
it leads to
- Numbers 21:5–6
and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
- Psalms 78:18
They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.
- Hebrews 3:8–11
do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,
- Exodus 17:2
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”
- Psalms 78:56
But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees.
- Numbers 21:5–6
Through
Revelation 2:23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
it leads to
- Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- Psalms 7:9
Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
- Romans 8:27
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
- Matthew 16:27
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Mark
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.