15 (A)Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might [a]tangle him in talk.

16 And they sent unto him their disciples with the [b]Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God [c]truly, neither carest for any man: for thou considerest not the [d]person of men.

17 [e]Tell us therefore, how thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give [f]tribute unto Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

19 Show me the tribute money. And they brought him a [g]penny.

20 And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

21 They said unto him, Caesar’s. Then said he unto them, (B)Give therefore to Caesar, the things which are Caesar’s, and give unto God, those things which are God’s.

22 And when they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:15 Snare him in his words or talk. The Greek word is derived of snares which hunters lay.
  2. Matthew 22:16 They which with Herod made a new religion patched together of the heathenish and the Jewish religion.
  3. Matthew 22:16 Truly and sincerely.
  4. Matthew 22:16 Thou art not moved with any appearance and outward show.
  5. Matthew 22:17 The Christians must obey their Magistrates, although they be wicked and extortioners, but so far forth as the authority that God hath over us may remain safe unto him, and his honor be not diminished.
  6. Matthew 22:17 The word that is used here, signifieth a valuing and rating of men’s substance, according to the proportion whereof they paid tribute in those provinces which were subject to tribute, and it is here taken for the tribute itself.
  7. Matthew 22:19 Before Matt. 17:24 there is mention made of a didrachma, and here, of a penny, whereas a didrachma is more by the seventh part than a penny: so that there seemeth to be a jar in these two places: but they may easily be recorded thus: The penny was paid to the Romans for tribute according to the proportion they were rated at, the drachma was paid of everyone to the Temple, which also the Romans took to themselves when they had subdued Judea.

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