Mark 12:15 (DBY)

Passage

Should we give, or should we not give? But he knowing their hypocrisy said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a denarius that I may see [it].

Nearby Context

Mark 12:13 And they send to him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch him in speaking.

Mark 12:14 And they come and say to him, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest not for any one; for thou regardest not men's person, but teachest the way of God with truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?

Mark 12:15 Should we give, or should we not give? But he knowing their hypocrisy said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a denarius that I may see [it].

Mark 12:16 And they brought [it]. And he says to them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? And they said to him, Caesar's.

Mark 12:17 And Jesus answering said to them, Pay what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God. And they wondered at him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "should", "give", "knowing", "hypocrisy", "said", and "tempt". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "should" and "give", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "And they come and say to him..." into verse 16's "And they brought it And he says...", so "should" and "give" belong inside that flow. In Mark context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "should" and "give" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.