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.

God and Caesar

²⁰ They^(A) watched closely^(B) and sent spies^(C) who pretended to be righteous,^[a] so that they could catch him in what he said,^(D) to hand him^(E) over to the governor’s^(F) rule and authority. ²¹ They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly,^(G) and you don’t show partiality^[b](H) but teach truthfully the way of God.^{(I) 22} Is it lawful^(J) for us to pay taxes^(K) to Caesar^(L) or not?”

²³ But detecting their craftiness, he said to them,^{[c] 24} “Show me a denarius.^[d] Whose image and inscription does it have?”

“Caesar’s,” they said.

²⁵ “Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar^(M) the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

²⁶ They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.^(N)