Markus 2:6

2:6 Now some of the experts in the law ¹  were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds: ² 

Markus 11:28

11:28 and said, “By what authority ³  are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

Markus 12:14

12:14 When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality ⁴  but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ⁵  Is it right ⁶  to pay taxes ⁷  to Caesar ⁸  or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

Lukas 11:53-54

11:53 When he went out from there, the experts in the law ⁹  and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, ¹⁰  and to ask him hostile questions ¹¹  about many things, 11:54 plotting against ¹²  him, to catch ¹³  him in something he might say.

Ibrani 12:3

12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

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

² tn Grk “Reasoning within their hearts.”

³ tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ.

⁴ tn Grk “and it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”

⁵ sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

⁶ tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.

⁷ tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (khnso") was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.

sn This question concerning taxes was specifically designed to trap Jesus. If he answered yes, then his opponents could publicly discredit him as a sympathizer with Rome. If he answered no, then they could go to the Roman governor and accuse Jesus of rebellion.

⁸ tn Or “the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

⁹ tn Or “the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

¹⁰ tn Or “terribly.”

¹¹ tn For this term see L&N 33.183.

¹² tn Grk “lying in ambush against,” but this is a figurative extension of that meaning.

¹³ tn This term was often used in a hunting context (BDAG 455 s.v. θηρεύω; L&N 27.30). Later examples of this appear in Luke 20.