They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?" But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin, and let me see it." They brought him one, and he asked, "Whose face and name are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered. So Jesus said, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." And they were amazed at Jesus. (Mark 12:14-17)
I didn't catch this until recently: when Jesus asks them whos face is on the coin, He is not just pointing out who the coin belongs to, He is also pointing out their hypocrisy. In Rome, the Caesar was often believed to be a Deity. So by pointing out that there is a picture of a false god, Jesus is showing that the Pharisees are in possesion of a graven image, or a false idol.
I didn't catch this until recently: when Jesus asks them whos face is on the coin, He is not just pointing out who the coin belongs to, He is also pointing out their hypocrisy. In Rome, the Caesar was often believed to be a Deity. So by pointing out that there is a picture of a false god, Jesus is showing that the Pharisees are in possesion of a graven image, or a false idol.
