Mark 12:13-17
Bible Verses. Also called Mark 12:13–17, Render unto Caesar, Render to Caesar, Tribute to Caesar, Paying taxes to Caesar, Question about paying taxes to Caesar.
13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14 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 Cesar, or not?
15 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.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
In this passage, the Pharisees and the Herodians ask Jesus whether tribute should be paid to Caesar (the Roman emperor), and Jesus answers, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). The passage is frequently cited in discussions of the relationship between church and state.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
The scene takes place during the final week of the ministry of Jesus, after his entry into Jerusalem, while he was debating the religious leaders in the temple. Just before this, Jesus had directed the parable of the wicked husbandmen against the leaders (Mark 12:1-12). They sought to lay hold on him but withdrew for fear of the crowd, and then sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians "to catch him in his words" (Mark 12:13). Their question concerned the Roman poll tax, a tax levied on each person. Had Jesus answered that the tax should be paid, he would have offended national sentiment; had he answered that it should not be paid, he could have been accused of rebellion against Rome. Jesus had them bring a denarius, a Roman silver coin, asked whose image and inscription it bore, and then gave his answer. The passage is followed by the Sadducees' question about the resurrection (Mark 12:18-27). The same incident is also recorded in Matthew and Luke.
Interpretation
- Two-realms reading: This reading holds that the state and God each have their own proper due. In the Lutheran tradition, the passage is often read in connection with Martin Luther's doctrine of the two kingdoms.
- Reading that prioritizes God's sovereignty: The Reformed tradition holds that because the authority of the state is itself established by God, obligations to the state, such as paying taxes, are included within one's obligations to God. When the state demands something contrary to God's will, however, one must obey God.
- Image reading: Just as the coin bore the image of Caesar, human beings bear the image of God (Genesis 1:27); the passage is therefore read as a call to give oneself to God. This interpretation is reported to date back to the early church.
- Reading that relativizes state power: The peace church tradition descended from the Anabaptists, along with some scholars, holds that if all things belong to God, Caesar's share must necessarily be limited. They read the saying as a subtle denial of the emperor's absolute authority.
Debates and Issues
- Translation: The Greek verb translated "render" carries the sense of "give back" or "pay what is owed," suggesting that Caesar's money should be returned to Caesar. Among Korean Bible translations, the New Korean Revised Version renders the name as "Caesar," while the Revised New Korean Standard Version renders it as "the emperor."
- Citation out of context: The passage is sometimes cited as a basis for the separation of church and state and taken to mean that "the church should not involve itself in politics." Others point out that the text is simply an answer to a question about taxes and does not directly address the modern institution of church-state separation.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, the passage is frequently cited in sermons on the relationship between the church and politics. In the debates preceding the implementation of the taxation of clergy in South Korea in 2018, pastors and organizations that supported the tax often invoked this passage in support of their position.
Related Passages
See also 8
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