Mark 12:13

Paying Taxes to Caesar

12:13 Then ¹  they sent some of the Pharisees ²  and Herodians ³  to trap him with his own words. ⁴ 

Matthew 22:15-18

Paying Taxes to Caesar

22:15 Then the Pharisees ⁵  went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. ⁶  22:16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, ⁷  saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ⁸  You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. ⁹  22:17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right ¹⁰  to pay taxes ¹¹  to Caesar ¹²  or not?”

22:18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me?

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

² sn See the note on Pharisees in 2:16.

³ sn Pharisees and Herodians made a very interesting alliance. W. W. Wessel (“Mark,” EBC 8:733) comments: “The Herodians were as obnoxious to the Pharisees on political grounds as the Sadducees were on theological grounds. Yet the two groups united in their opposition to Jesus. Collaboration in wickedness, as well as goodness, has great power. Their purpose was to trip Jesus up in his words so that he would lose the support of the people, leaving the way open for them to destroy him.” See also the note on “Herodians” in Mark 3:6.

⁴ tn Grk “trap him in word.”

⁵ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

⁶ tn Grk “trap him in word.”

⁷ sn The Herodians are mentioned in the NT only once in Matt (22:16 = Mark 12:13) and twice in Mark (3:6; 12:13; some mss also read “Herodians” instead of “Herod” in Mark 8:15). It is generally assumed that as a group the Herodians were Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty (or of Herod Antipas in particular). In every instance they are linked with the Pharisees. This probably reflects agreement regarding political objectives (nationalism as opposed to submission to the yoke of Roman oppression) rather than philosophy or religious beliefs.

⁸ sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

⁹ tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”

¹⁰ tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.

¹¹ tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (khnso") was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.

¹² tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).