20 (A)And so they watched Him [a]closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order (B)that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of (C)the governor. 21 And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You [b]are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth. 22 Is it [c]permissible for us (D)to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He saw through their trickery and said to them, 24 “Show Me a [d]denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, “Then (E)pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were unable to (F)catch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:20 Or maliciously
  2. Luke 20:21 Lit do not receive a face
  3. Luke 20:22 I.e., by Jewish law and tradition
  4. Luke 20:24 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer

A Question about Paying Taxes(A)

20 So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction[a] of the governor, 21 so they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re right in what you say and teach, and that you don’t favor any individual, but teach the way of God truthfully. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 But he discerned their craftiness and responded to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose face and name does it have?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 So he told them, “Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26 So they couldn’t catch him before the people in what he said. Amazed at his answer, they became silent.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:20 Lit. the power and authority