Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 (A)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how (B)to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent (C)their disciples to him, along with (D)the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, (E)we know that you are true and teach (F)the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for (G)you are not swayed by appearances.[a] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay (H)taxes to (I)Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why (J)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, (K)“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 (L)left him and went away.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:16 Greek for you do not look at people's faces
  2. Matthew 22:19 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer

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