Matthew 22:15-22 - Paying Taxes To Caesar

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and consulted together how they might entrap Him in His conversation. ¹⁶ So they sent to Him their disciples together with the Herodians; who said, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you are not biased by men's wealth or rank. ¹⁷ Give us your judgement therefore: is it allowable for us to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"

¹⁸ Perceiving their wickedness, Jesus replied, "Why are you hypocrites trying to ensnare me? ¹⁹ Show me the tribute coin." And they brought Him a shilling. ²⁰ "Whose likeness and inscription," He asked, "is this?"

²¹ "Caesar's," they replied. "Pay therefore," He rejoined, "what is Caesar's to Caesar; and what is God's to God." ²² They heard this, and were astonished; then left Him, and went their way.

¹³ Their next step was to send to Him some of the Pharisees and of Herod's partisans to entrap Him in conversation. ¹⁴ So they came to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you are a truthful man and you do not fear any one; for you do not recognize human distinctions, but teach God's way truly. Is it allowable to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not? ¹⁵ Shall we pay, or shall we refuse to pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, replied, "Why try to ensnare me? Bring me a shilling for me to look at." ¹⁶ They brought one; and He asked them, "Whose is this likeness and this inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.

¹⁷ "What is Caesar's," replied Jesus, "pay to Caesar--and what is God's, pay to God." And they wondered exceedingly at Him.

²⁰ So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority. ²¹ So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly. ²² Is it allowable to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?"

²³ But He saw through their knavery and replied, ²⁴ "Show me a shilling; whose likeness and inscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they said.

²⁵ "Pay therefore," He replied, "what is Caesar's to Caesar--and what is God's to God."

²⁶ There was nothing here that they could lay hold of before the people, and marvelling at His answer they said no more.