Flattery, Framing, and the Grammar of a Trap

This richly layered passage from the Gospels offers a prime example of how Greek grammar reflects both strategy and deception. The speakers approach Jesus with words that appear flattering but are designed to frame a trap. Their phrasing employs multiple indicative verbs, careful use of particles like οὐ and μὴ, and strategic use of mood in their final question. The full text reads: οἱ δὲ ἐλθόντες λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός· οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλ’ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις. εἶπον οὖν ἡμῖν· ἔξεστι δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ; δῶμεν ἢ μὴ δῶμεν; from Mark 12:14.

The Greek Text in Focus

οἱ δὲ ἐλθόντες λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός· οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλ’ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ διδάσκεις. εἶπον οὖν ἡμῖν· ἔξεστι δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ; δῶμεν ἢ μὴ δῶμεν; (Mark 12:14)

“And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and that you do not care about anyone, for you do not look at the face of people, but in truth you teach the way of God. Tell us then, is it lawful to give the poll-tax to Caesar or not? Should we give or not give?’”

Grammatical Highlights

• ἐλθόντες — aorist participle active, nom. masc. plural; describes those who came.
• λέγουσιν — present indicative active, 3rd plural; the main narrative verb (“they say”).
• οἴδαμεν — perfect indicative active, 1st plural; “we know.”
• εἶ — present indicative active, 2nd singular; “you are.”
• μέλει — present indicative active, 3rd singular; “it concerns” (impersonal use).
• οὐ… οὐδενός — emphatic negation + genitive: “it does not matter to you about anyone.”
• βλέπεις — present indicative active, 2nd singular; “you look.”
• διδάσκεις — present indicative active, 2nd singular; “you teach.”
• εἶπον — aorist indicative active, 3rd plural; “they said.”
• ἔξεστι — present indicative impersonal verb; “is it lawful/permissible.”
• δοῦναι — aorist active infinitive; complementary to ἔξεστι (“to give”).
• δῶμεν / μὴ δῶμεν — aorist subjunctive 1st plural; deliberative subjunctive: “shall we give or not?”

Flattery in the Indicative

The speakers use a string of indicative verbs — εἶ, μέλει, βλέπεις, διδάσκεις — to affirm Jesus’ character. Their words sound respectful: “You are true… you don’t show partiality… you teach God’s way.” Grammatically, these are all straightforward statements in the present indicative. But rhetorically, this is calculated flattery. The indicative gives the impression of sincerity, while subtly pushing Jesus toward a public statement that could incriminate him.

Purpose and Trap: Subjunctive in the Question

The final sentence uses the verb ἔξεστι with an infinitive: δοῦναι (“Is it lawful to give…?”). The structure is grammatically clean but politically loaded. The real trap comes in the follow-up: δῶμεν ἢ μὴ δῶμεν; both verbs are in the aorist subjunctive — a classical form of deliberative question. In English: “Should we give or not give?” This use of the subjunctive signals open deliberation — but their tone is anything but neutral.

Structure of Contrast: οὐ… ἀλλά

The contrast in the flattery uses οὐ… ἀλλά (“not… but”): οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλ’ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας…. This is classic Greek rhetorical structure, contrasting false human regard with divine truth. Grammar mirrors message — he teaches not to please men, but truthfully.

The Syntax of Suspicion

In Mark 12:14, every grammatical choice tightens the tension. The use of indicative verbs masks flattery as fact. The negation structures amplify contrast. The subjunctive turns inquiry into entrapment. Greek allows us to see not only what they said, but how they set the trap. Language here is layered with motive — and grammar becomes the wire that triggers the snare.