Mark 12:17

12:17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ¹  And they were utterly amazed at him.

Mark 12:28

The Greatest Commandment

12:28 Now ²  one of the experts in the law ³  came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus ⁴  answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Mark 12:32

12:32 The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. ⁵ 

Mark 12:34

12:34 When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Then no one dared any longer to question him.

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¹ sn Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So he slipped out of their trap.

² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

³ tn Or “One of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ sn A quotation from Deut 4:35.