Poll-tax to Caesar

15 (A)Then the Pharisees went and [a]plotted together how they might trap Him [b]in what He said. 16 And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the (B)Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and [c]do not care what anyone thinks; for You [d]are not partial to anyone. 17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it [e]permissible to pay a [f](C)poll-tax to (D)Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their [g]malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the (E)coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a [h]denarius. 20 And He *said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He *said to them, (F)Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 And hearing this, they were amazed; and (G)they left Him and went away.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:15 Lit took counsel
  2. Matthew 22:15 Lit in word
  3. Matthew 22:16 Lit it is not a concern to You about anyone;
  4. Matthew 22:16 Lit do not look at the face of people
  5. Matthew 22:17 Or lawful; i.e., by Jewish law and tradition
  6. Matthew 22:17 I.e., a tax on each person in the census
  7. Matthew 22:18 Or wickedness
  8. Matthew 22:19 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer

15 Then tote the ho Pharisees Pharisaios went poreuō out and plotted symboulion lambanō how hopōs they could trap pagideuō him autos in en what he said logos. 16 And kai they sent apostellō their autos disciples mathētēs to him autos · ho along with meta the ho Herodians hērōidianoi, saying legō, “ Teacher didaskalos, we know oida that hoti you are eimi true alēthēs and kai teach didaskō the ho way hodos of ho God theos in en truth alētheia, and kai show deference melei to peri no oudeis one , for gar you are not ou swayed blepō by eis appearances prosōpon anthrōpos. 17 So oun tell legō us hēmeis, what tis do you sy think dokeō? Is it proper to pay didōmi a tax kēnsos to Caesar Kaisar or ē not ou?” 18 But de Jesus Iēsous, perceiving ginōskō · ho · ho their autos evil ponēria intent , said legō, “ Why tis are you testing peirazō me egō, you hypocrites hypokritēs? 19 Show epideiknymi me egō the ho coin nomisma used for the ho tax kēnsos.” So de they ho brought prospherō him autos a denarius dēnarion. 20 And kai Jesus said legō to them autos, “ Whose tis · ho image eikōn is this houtos, and kai whose · ho inscription epigraphē?” 21 They answered legō him autos, “Caesar’ s Kaisar.” Then tote he said legō to them autos, “ Render apodidōmi therefore oun to Caesar Kaisar the ho things that are Caesar’ s Kaisar, and kai to ho God theos the ho things that are · ho God’ s theos.” 22 · kai When they heard akouō this they were astonished thaumazō, so kai they left aphiēmi him autos and went aperchomai away .

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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