Back To The Drawing Board

Mark 12:13 (KJV) And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. Could this be the chief priest, scribes and the elders we read about in chapter 11 who questioned Jesus' authority?  Mark 11:27 (KJV) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 

Mark 11:28 (KJV)  And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? Well they think they are going to trip up Jesus in paying tax. Well here they come. First they say Jesus, we know that you tell the truth. You don't favor individuals because of who they are or their status. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Luke says be careful when 

Luke 6:26 (KJV) Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 

Well here comes the big question: the reason they came. “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

Jesus' answer is simple Mark 12:17 (KJV) And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. Well that didn’t go the way they had planned, back to the drawing board.