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Is It Right to Pay Taxes or Not?(A)

20 So they watched Jesus and sent some spies who acted as if they were ·sincere [honest; righteous]. They wanted to trap Jesus in saying something wrong so they could hand him over to the ·authority [jurisdiction; rule] and ·power [authority] of the governor. 21 So the spies asked Jesus, “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is ·true [right; correct]. You ·pay no attention to who people are [play no favorites; are impartial; aren’t swayed by appearances], and you always teach ·the truth [with sincerity/honesty] about God’s way. 22 Tell us, is it ·right [permissible; lawful] for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” [C Saying yes would anger Jews who hated Roman rule; saying no could result in being charged with insurrection.]

23 But Jesus, knowing ·they were trying to trick him [L their craftiness/duplicity], said, 24 “Show me a ·coin [L denarius]. Whose ·image [likeness; portrait] and ·name [inscription; title] are on it?”

They said, “Caesar’s.” [C Ironically, the religious leaders carry coins bearing the idolatrous image of Caesar.]

25 Jesus said to them, “Then ·give [give back; T render] to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and ·give [give back; T render] to God the things that are God’s.”

26 So they were not able to ·trap [catch] Jesus in anything he said in the presence of the people. And being amazed at his answer, they ·became silent [kept quiet].

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20 So kai they watched paratēreō him closely and sent apostellō spies who heautou pretended hypokrinomai to be eimi righteous dikaios so hina they could catch epilambanomai him in his autos word logos, and in this way hōste deliver paradidōmi him autos to the ho jurisdiction archē and kai · ho authority exousia of the ho governor hēgemōn. 21 · kai They questioned eperōtaō him autos, saying legō, “ Teacher didaskalos, we know oida that hoti you speak legō and kai teach didaskō truthfully orthōs and kai show lambanō no ou partiality prosōpon, but alla truly epi alētheia teach didaskō the ho way hodos of ho God theos. 22 Is it lawful for us hēmeis to give didōmi tribute phoros to Caesar Kaisar, or ē not ou?” 23 But de he realized katanoeō their autos · ho duplicity panourgia, and said legō to pros them autos, 24  Show deiknymi me egō a denarius dēnarion. Whose tis image eikōn and kai inscription epigraphē does it have echō?” They ho · de said legō, “Caesar’ s Kaisar.” 25 He ho · de said legō to pros them autos, “Then give apodidōmi to Caesar Kaisar the ho things that are Caesar’ s Kaisar, and kai to ho God theos the ho things that are · ho God’ s theos.” 26 And kai they were unable ou to trap epilambanomai him autos in what he said rhēma in the presence enantion of the ho people laos, but kai, marveling thaumazō at epi · ho his autos answer apokrisis, they were reduced sigaō to silence .

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