Matthew 22:12-22

English Standard Version

¹² And he said to him, ^(A)‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and ^(B)cast him into the outer darkness. In that place ^(C)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are ^(D)called, but few are ^(E)chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

^15 (F)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how ^(G)to entangle him in his words. ¹⁶ And they sent ^(H)their disciples to him, along with ^(I)the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, ^(J)we know that you are true and teach ^(K)the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for ^(L)you are not swayed by appearances.^{[a] 17} Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay ^(M)taxes to ^(N)Caesar, or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why ^(O)put me to the test, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.^{[b] 20} And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” ²¹ They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, ^(P)“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” ²² When they heard it, they marveled. And they ^(Q)left him and went away.