Mark 12:16 — Community Reflections

MARK 12:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s.”

They brought the coin, and he asked them, whose image is this? And whose inscription? Caesar's, they replied — the image (eikōn) and inscription (epigraphē) on the coin identify it as Roman property. The image of Caesar on the coin communicated Caesar's claim of ownership: the coin belongs to Caesar because it bears his image. The question is simple; the answer is unambiguous; the implication will be devastating in its simplicity.

Church Fathers on Mark 12:16

The Chief Priests though they sought to take Him, feared the multitude, and therefore they endeavored to effect what they could not do of themselves, by means of earthly powers, that they might themselves appear to be guiltless of His death.
Bede · 8th century

We have said elsewhere of the Herodians, that they were a certain new heresy, who said that Herod was the Christ, because the succession of the kingdom of Judah had failed. Others however say that the Herodians were the soldiers of Herod, whom the Pharisees brought as witnesses of the words of Christ, that they might take Him, and lead Him away. But observe how in their wickedness they wished to deceive Christ by flattery; for it goes on: 'Master, we know that thou art true.'
Theophylact · 11th century

For they questioned Him with honied words, and they surrounded Him as bees, who carry honey in their mouth, but a sting in their tail.
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

Read all 10 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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