Mark 12:15 (DRB)

Passage

Who knowing their wiliness, saith to them: Why tempt you me? Bring me a penny that I may see it.

Nearby Context

Mark 12:13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians: that they should catch him in his words.

Mark 12:14 Who coming, say to him: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker and carest not for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar? Or shall we not give it?

Mark 12:15 Who knowing their wiliness, saith to them: Why tempt you me? Bring me a penny that I may see it.

Mark 12:16 And they brought it him. And he saith to them: Whose is this image and inscription? They say to him, Caesar's.

Mark 12:17 And Jesus answering, said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "Who coming say to him Master we..." into verse 16's "And they brought it him And he...", so "knowing" and "wiliness" 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 "knowing" and "wiliness" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.