Matthew 22:15-22

International Children’s Bible

The Pharisees Try to Trap Jesus

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees left the place where Jesus was teaching. They made plans to trap Jesus with a question. ¹⁶ They sent some of their own followers and some men from the group called Herodians.^[a] These men said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. We know that you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what other people think about you. All men are the same to you. ¹⁷ So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus knew that these men were trying to trick him. So he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me a coin used for paying the tax.” The men showed him a silver coin.^{[b] 20} Then Jesus asked, “Whose picture is on the coin? And whose name is written on the coin?”

²¹ The men answered, “Caesar’s.”

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. And give to God the things that are God’s.”

²² The men heard what Jesus said, and they were amazed. They left him and went away.