Matthew 22:15-22 - Paying Taxes To Caesar

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. ¹⁶ And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, and you care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. ¹⁷ Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

¹⁸ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. ²⁰ And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"

²¹ They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." ²² When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away.

¹³ Then they sent to him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch him in his words. ¹⁴ When they came, they said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no man; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why do you put me to the test? Bring me a denarius, 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, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.

²⁰ So they watched him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might catch him on what he said, in order to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ And they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and you do not show partiality, but teach the way of God in truth. ²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

²³ But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, ²⁴ "Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's."

²⁵ He said to them, "Then render 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 catch him by what he said. But marveling at his answer they were silent.