Matthew 22:15-22

Christian Standard Bible

God and Caesar

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said.^{[a](A) 16} So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians.^(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality.^{[b](C) 17} Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar^(D) or not?”

¹⁸ Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius.^{[c] 20} “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they said to him.

Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”^{(E) 22} When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.