Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

12 In the meantime, ^(A)when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, ^(B)“Beware of ^(C)the leaven of the Pharisees, ^(D)which is hypocrisy. ^2 (E)Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ³ Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in ^(F)private rooms shall be proclaimed on ^(G)the housetops.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

^13 (A)And they sent to him some of ^(B)the Pharisees and some of ^(C)the Herodians, to ^(D)trap him in his talk. ¹⁴ And they came and said to him, “Teacher, ^(E)we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For ^(F)you are not swayed by appearances,^[a] but truly teach ^(G)the way of God. Is it lawful to pay ^(H)taxes to ^(I)Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” ¹⁵ But, knowing ^(J)their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why ^(K)put me to the test? Bring me ^(L)a denarius^[b] and let me look at it.” ¹⁶ And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, ^(M)“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

^27 (A)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like ^(B)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and ^(C)all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also ^(D)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of ^(E)hypocrisy and lawlessness.