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Mark 12 · a question people ask

What are "the things that are God’s" (12:17)?

In the text

Jesus doesn't list them. He said, "Bring me a denarius, that I may see it" (12:15), asked, "Whose is this image and inscription?" and was told, "Caesar’s" (12:16) (tap image). Then he said, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s" (12:17). Mark tells only how they took it: "They marveled greatly at him" (12:17). Matthew has "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s" (Matthew 22:21), and Luke "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s" (Luke 20:25). The chapter doesn't say what belongs to God, or to Caesar, beyond the coin, and these notes don't fill it in. Favor's chapter on Ezra 4 sets Luke's telling beside a letter about a king's tribute, as a reading.

The verses

“They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.””
Matthew 22:21 · World English Bible
“He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.””
Luke 20:25 · World English Bible
“Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.”
Ezra 4:13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Mark 12

Mark 12: Not far from God’s Kingdom

When Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, quoted Moses to him, Jesus answered from Moses too: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob", and "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (12:26-27). And asked for the greatest commandment, he gave two: love God with everything, and your neighbor as yourself (12:29-31).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions