Pharisees . App-120 . to catch = that they might catch. catch . Greek. agreuo = to take in hunting: hence, to ensnare. In Matthew 22:15 it is pagideuo = to ensnare ("entangle "). Both are Divine supplementary render ings of the same Aramaic word: Matt. giving the result of the hunting. Neither of the two words occurs elsewhere. words = discourse. Greek logos. See note on Mark 9:32 . read more
Master. Teacher. As in Mark 12:19 , Mark 12:32 . App-98 . Mark 12:1 . we know. Greek oida. See App-132 . for = about, or concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 . no man = no one. Greek oudeis, a compound of ou. App-105 . for = because. regardest not = lookest ( App-133 .) not (Greek. ou . App-105 ) on (Greek. eis. App-104 .) God. Greek. Theos. App-98 . in = with. Greek. epi. App-104 . tribute . Occurs only here and in Matthew 17:25 with Matthew 22:17 , Matthew 22:19 . See notes... read more
Shall we give , &c. A Divine supplement, here. not . Greek me. App-105 . Same word as in Mark 12:24 . Not the same as in verses: Mark 12:10 , Mark 12:14 , Mark 12:34; Mark 12:34 , penny = denarion . See note on Matthew 22:19 . App-51 . read more
image , &c. See note on Matthew 22:20 . read more
Jesus. App-98 . answering said. Hebrew idiom. See note, on Deuteronomy 1:41 . marvelled = were wondering. T WH R read "wondered beyond measure" (exehaumasan, instead of ethaumasan, with Authorized Version L Tr. A and Syriac.) read more
And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch him in talk.CONCERNING TRIBUTE TO CAESARThey sent... The Sanhedrin seems to have been the authority which here delegated some of their cleverest members to engage in a forensic contest with Jesus.Pharisees and ... Herodians ... Old enemies became friends in their common opposition to the Light of all ages, even the Sadducees coming in a little later.That they might catch him in talk ... A likely... read more
And when they were come, they say unto him, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest not for any one; for thou regardest not the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God. Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?These compliments paid to Jesus were the simple truth regarding the Christ, but in the mouths of his enemies they took on the character of insincere and obsequious flattery. They must have been confident indeed of their own ability to entrap Jesus, because... read more
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.Shall we give, or shall we not give ... has the effect of "Give us a plain, Yes or No." Jesus asked them to bring him a denarius, the type of coin used in paying the poll tax, the same having an image of Caesar upon one side and of Caesar's mother on the other side, the images being particularly obnoxious to the Jews. There was also an inscription... read more
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.Cranfield wrote that:The legend (on the coin), which is abbreviated, reads (in full) "Tiberius Caesar Divi Augusti Filius Augustus Pontilex Maximum." Both legend and images set forth the mythology of the Imperial cult and so troubled the consciences of religious Jews.[9]Jesus at once took up their admission of carrying and using the coins bearing Caesar's image and... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 12:13-17
125. A question about paying taxes (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:19-26)The Herodians were a group of Jews who, unlike most Jews, were favourable to the rule of the Herods and therefore (indirectly) to the rule of Rome. Normally, they had little in common with the Pharisees, but the two groups were willing to cooperate in an attempt to trap Jesus. They asked him was it lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Rome (Matthew 22:15-17; Luke 20:19-22).If Jesus replied ‘Yes’, the Pharisees would... read more