Both Mark (12.17) and Luke (20.26) indicate that Jesus’ opponents marveled (see 8.10) at his response. The concluding statement (and they left him and went away) is recorded earlier in Mark (12.12), where it immediately precedes this section about the payment of taxes. Luke lays even stronger emphasis upon what resulted from Jesus’ reply: “And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him by what he said; but marveling at his answer they were silent.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the verse: “They had not expected this answer. They left Jesus in peace and went away.” Another rendering that may be natural is “When they heard Jesus’ answer, they were astonished. So they left him and went away.” In some languages “They went away from him” will be more natural.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .