Luke 20:20-26
New Living Translation
Taxes for Caesar
20 Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. 21 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. 22 Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their trickery and said, 24 “Show me a Roman coin.[a] Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
26 So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.
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- 20:24 Greek a denarius.
Luke 20:20-26
New American Standard Bible
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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- Luke 20:20 Or maliciously
- Luke 20:21 Lit do not receive a face
- Luke 20:22 I.e., by Jewish law and tradition
- Luke 20:24 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.