Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians(B) to Jesus to catch him(C) in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”(D)

And they were amazed at him.

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Notas al pie

  1. Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens

God and Caesar

13 Then(A) they sent some of the Pharisees(B) and the Herodians(C) to Jesus to trap him in his words.(D) 14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality(E) but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes(F) to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

15 But knowing their hypocrisy,(G) he said to them, “Why are you testing(H) me? Bring me a denarius[a](I) to look at.” 16 They brought a coin. “Whose image(J) and inscription(K) is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”(L) And they were utterly amazed(M) at him.

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Notas al pie

  1. 12:15 A denarius = one day’s wage