Paying Taxes to Caesar
The Pharisees go out and plan to trap Jesus in his words.
T15hen the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.
They send their disciples with the Herodians and flatter Jesus before asking their question.
16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
They ask whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.
17So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Jesus exposes their evil intent and calls them hypocrites for testing him.
18But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?
Jesus asks them to show him the coin used for the tax.
19Show Me the coin used for the tax.”
He asks whose image and inscription appear on the coin.
20“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”
They answer that the coin belongs to Caesar.
21“Caesar’s,” they answered.
They marvel, then leave him and go away.
22And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.