Mark 12:15 (GNV)

Passage

Should we giue it, or should we not giue it? but he knew their hypocrisie, and said vnto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a peny, that I may see it.

Nearby Context

Mark 12:13 And they sent vnto him certaine of the Pharises, and of ye Herodians that they might take him in his talke.

Mark 12:14 And when they came, they saide vnto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou considerest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God truely, Is it lawfull to giue tribute to Cesar, or not?

Mark 12:15 Should we giue it, or should we not giue it? but he knew their hypocrisie, and said vnto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a peny, that I may see it.

Mark 12:16 So they brought it, and he said vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription? and they said vnto him, Cesars.

Mark 12:17 Then Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Giue to Cesar the things that are Cesars, and to God, those that are Gods: and they marueiled at him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "should", "giue", "knew", "hypocrisie", "said", and "vnto". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "should" and "giue", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "And when they came they saide vnto..." into verse 16's "So they brought it and he said...", so "should" and "giue" 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 "giue" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.