Luke 20:20-26
Modern English Version
The Question of Paying Taxes(A)
20 They watched Him and sent out spies who pretended to be righteous men, that they might seize Him in His words to hand Him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach rightly. And You do not show partiality, but You truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23 He perceived their craftiness and said to them, “Why do you test Me? 24 Show Me a denarius.[a] Whose image and inscription does it have?”
They said, “Caesar’s.”
25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 They could not catch Him in His words before the people. And they marveled at His answer and were silent.
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- Luke 20:24 Gk. denarius, a coin worth about a day’s wage.
Luke 20:20-26
Lexham English Bible
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 And they watched him[a] closely and[b] sent spies who pretended they were upright, in order that they could catch him in a statement, so that they could hand him over to the authority and the jurisdiction of the governor. 21 And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not show partiality,[c] but teach the way of God in truth. 22 Is it permitted for us to pay taxes[d] to Caesar or not?” 23 But seeing through their craftiness, he said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius! Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they answered and[e] said,[f] “Caesar’s.” 25 So he said to them, “Well then, give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!” 26 And they were not able to catch him[g][h] in a statement in the sight of the people, and astonished at his answer, they became silent.
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- Luke 20:20 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 20:20 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“watched closely”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 20:21 Literally “receive face”
- Luke 20:22 Or “the tribute tax”
- Luke 20:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 20:24 Some manuscripts have “And they said”
- Luke 20:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 20:26 Some manuscripts explicitly state “him”
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