Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ But, my dear brothers, you must remember what the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ said would happen.

¹⁸ They said to you, `At the end of time, men will come who will make fun of holy things. They will do the wrong things they themselves want to do.'

¹⁹ These are the men who make people go into different groups in the church meetings. They have only a man's heart. They do not have the Holy Spirit.

²⁰ But you, my dear brothers, must make your lives better in the holy things you believe. Talk to God in the Holy Spirit.

²¹ Keep yourselves in God's love. Wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come and help you. He will give you life that will live for ever.

²² Some people are not sure what they believe. Be kind to them by sharing in their troubles.

²³ Pull them out of the fire and save them. There are other people to whom you must be kind, but be careful about it. But you must hate even the clothes that bad people have worn.

²⁴ God can keep you from doing anything wrong. He can bring you to the place where he is great and you will be all good. You will be very happy.

²⁵ He is the only God. And he is our Saviour through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is great! He is wonderful! He has power! He has the right to rule! He was like that before time began! He is like that now! And he will be like that for ever. Yes, he will!

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went away. They planned how to make Jesus say something wrong.

¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him with some of Herod's people. They said, `Teacher, we know that you are true. We know that you teach the true way of God. You do not fear any person, or care how great he is.

¹⁷ So tell us. What do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or is it not?'

¹⁸ Jesus knew they were trying to get him into trouble. So he said to them, `Why are you trying to get me to do wrong? You are not true to yourselves!

¹⁹ Show me a piece of money used for tax.' They brought him a piece of money.

²⁰ `Whose picture and name is this?' he asked.

²¹ They said, `Caesar's'. Then he said to them, `Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give to God what belongs to God.'

²² When they heard that, they were surprised. They left him and went away.