Paying Taxes to Caesar
13 yAnd they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, zto trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, awe know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For byou are not swayed by cappearances,1 but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay dtaxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius2 and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, e“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
19 vThe scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they wwatched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, xwe know that you speak and teach rightly, and yshow no partiality,1 but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give ztribute to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius.2 Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then arender to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to bcatch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
