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.

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Footnotes

  1. 22:15 Lit trap him in a word
  2. 22:16 Lit don’t look on the face of men
  3. 22:19 A denarius = one day’s wage

God and Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what He said.[a](A) 16 They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality.[b](C) 17 Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar(D) or not?”

18 But perceiving their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing Me, hypocrites? 19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them.

21 “Caesar’s,” they said to Him.

Then He said to them, “Therefore give back 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:15 Lit trap Him in [a] word
  2. Matthew 22:16 Lit don’t look on the face of men; that is, on the outward appearance

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](C) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(D) and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens