Paying Taxes to Caesar(A)

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(B) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(C) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(D) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(E) and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

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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