Matthew 22:15-22

Good News Translation

The Question about Paying Taxes^(A)

¹⁵The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions. ¹⁶Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone's status. ¹⁷Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?”

¹⁸Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹Show me the coin for paying the tax!”

They brought him the coin, ²⁰and he asked them, “Whose face and name are these?”

²¹“The Emperor's,” they answered.

So Jesus said to them, “Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.”

²²When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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Mark 12:13-17

Good News Translation

The Question about Paying Taxes^(A)

¹³Some Pharisees and some members of Herod's party were sent to Jesus to trap him with questions. ¹⁴They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?”

¹⁵But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, “Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin, and let me see it.”

¹⁶They brought him one, and he asked, “Whose face and name are these?”

“The Emperor's,” they answered.

¹⁷So Jesus said, “Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.”

And they were amazed at Jesus.

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