Matthew 22:15-22 - Paying Taxes To Caesar

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees left and took counsel how they might entangle him in his word. ¹⁶ And they sent out unto him their disciples with those of Herod, saying, Master, we know that thou art a lover of truth and teachest the way of God with truth and that thou takest care for no man, for thou art no respecter of persons of men. ¹⁷ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not?

¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin of the tribute. And they presented unto him a denarius. ²⁰ And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

²¹ They say unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's. ²² When they had heard these words, they marvelled and left him and went away.

¹³ And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to catch him in his words. ¹⁴ And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art a man of truth who regards no man; for thou dost not look upon the appearance of men, but dost with truth teach the way of God; is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? ¹⁵ Shall we give or shall we not give? Then he, understanding their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me the coin that I may see it. ¹⁶ And they brought it. And he said unto them, Of whom is this image and inscription? And they said unto him, Of Caesar.

¹⁷ And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Render that which is of Caesar unto Caesar, and that which is of God unto God. And they marvelled at this.

²⁰ And they watched him and sent forth spies who feigned themselves just men that they might take hold of him as he was speaking, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither dost thou accept the person of any, but teachest the way of God with truth; ²² Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar or no?

²³ But he, perceiving their craftiness, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? ²⁴ Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar's.

²⁵ And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's.

²⁶ And they could not take hold of his words before the people, and they marvelled at his answer and were silent.