Hekima Review No. 60 Dec 2019

In Mark 12:13-17, we see an encounter between Jesus, the Pharisees, and the Herodians. The latter groups of people attempt to trap Jesus through their questions about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus is clever enough not to fall into this trap. He eventually silences the Pharisees and the Herodians with what has become a famous maxim: "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's:' This encounter Jesus had needs to be unpacked for it bears important consequences, not just in a religious paradigm, but also in a socio-political framework. The various characters in this narrative can be given symbolic meaning.