A Question about Paying Taxes^(A)

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and planned how to trap Jesus^[a] in conversation. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.^[b] They said, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere and that you teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. ¹⁷ So tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ Recognizing their wickedness, Jesus asked, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for the tax.”

They brought him a denarius.^{[c] 20} Then he asked them, “Whose face and name is this?”

²¹ They told him, “Caesar’s.”

So he told them, “Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

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

A Question about Paying Taxes^(A)

¹³ Then they sent some Pharisees and some Herodians^[a] to him, intending to trap him in what he said. ¹⁴ They came and told him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere. You don’t favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. Instead, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or shouldn’t we?”

¹⁵ Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus^[b] replied to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”

¹⁶ So they brought one. Then he asked them, “Whose face and name are on this?”

They told him, “Caesar’s.”

¹⁷ So Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.