Mark 12:15

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].

Shall we give {G1325}, or {G2228} shall we not {G3361} give {G1325}? But {G1161} he, knowing {G1492} their {G846} hypocrisy {G5272}, said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Why {G5101} tempt ye {G3985} me {G3165}? bring {G5342} me {G3427} a penny {G1220}, that {G2443} I may see {G1492} it.

But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a denarius so I can look at it."

But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”

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.

Mark 12:15 (KJV) records a pivotal moment during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem, showcasing His divine insight and unwavering wisdom in the face of manipulative questioning. This verse is part of the famous "Tribute to Caesar" discourse, a carefully laid trap by His adversaries.

Context

Leading up to this verse, the religious and political opponents of Jesus—specifically the Pharisees and Herodians—had approached Him with a seemingly innocent but deeply insidious question: "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" (Mark 12:14). This was a no-win situation for them. If Jesus said "yes," He would alienate the Jewish populace who resented Roman occupation and taxation. If He said "no," He could be accused of sedition against the Roman Empire. Their intent was to catch Him in His words, providing grounds for His arrest or discrediting Him among the people. The "penny" Jesus requested was a Roman denarius, a common silver coin bearing the emperor's image, used for paying taxes.

Key Themes

  • Divine Discernment and Omniscience: The verse immediately highlights Jesus' supernatural ability to perceive the true intentions of His questioners. He "knowing their hypocrisy" (Greek: hypokrisis, meaning acting or pretense) saw through their feigned sincerity. This underscores His divine nature, as He could read their hearts and not just their words. Parallel accounts in Matthew 22:18 and Luke 20:23 confirm Jesus' insight into their wickedness and craftiness.
  • Testing and Temptation: Jesus directly confronts their deceptive motive with the question, "Why tempt ye me?" (Greek: peirazo, to test or try with malicious intent). They were not seeking truth or guidance, but attempting to ensnare Him. This reveals the adversarial nature of their encounter.
  • Setting the Stage for Wisdom: By asking for the coin, Jesus cleverly prepares for His profound and unanswerable response in Mark 12:17, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." This initial request for the coin demonstrates His strategic brilliance in turning the tables on His accusers.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "hypocrisy," hypokrisis, literally refers to an actor playing a part on a stage. This powerfully conveys the idea that the Pharisees and Herodians were not genuinely seeking an answer but were merely performing a charade, hiding their true, malicious intentions behind a facade of religious inquiry. The term "tempt ye me" (peirazo) emphasizes their deliberate attempt to test or trap Jesus, not in a constructive way, but with the aim of finding fault.

Practical Application

Mark 12:15 serves as a powerful reminder that God sees beyond our outward appearance and superficial questions. He knows the true intentions of our hearts. For believers, this highlights the importance of approaching spiritual matters with genuine sincerity and humility, rather than with hidden motives or manipulative agendas. It also reassures us that Jesus, our Lord, possesses complete knowledge and wisdom to navigate any challenge or deception, offering a model of discernment and integrity in the face of opposition.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 5:9

    Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and shall carry thee out.

  • Luke 20:23

    But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

  • John 2:24

    But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men],

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • Revelation 2:23

    And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:9

    Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

  • Hebrews 4:13

    Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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