The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?(A)

15 (B)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the (C)Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not [a]regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus [b]perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”

So they brought Him a denarius.

20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, (D)“Render[c] therefore to Caesar the things that are (E)Caesar’s, and to God the things that are (F)God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:16 Lit. look at the face of
  2. Matthew 22:18 knew
  3. Matthew 22:21 Pay

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees went and consulted[a] so that they could entrap him with a statement. 16 And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care what anyone thinks,[b] because you do not regard the opinion of people.[c] 17 Therefore tell us what you think. Is it permitted to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But because he[d] knew their maliciousness, Jesus said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19 Show me the coin for the tax!” So they brought him a 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, “Therefore give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!” 22 And when they[e] heard this,[f] they were astonished, and they left him and[g] went away.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:15 Literally “took counsel”
  2. Matthew 22:16 Literally “it is not a care to you concerning anyone”
  3. Matthew 22:16 Literally “because you do not look at the face of men”
  4. Matthew 22:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal
  5. Matthew 22:22 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Matthew 22:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Matthew 22:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“left”) has been translated as a finite verb