Font Size
Matthew 22:15-22
New Life Version
Matthew 22:15-22
New Life Version
The Proud Religious Law-Keepers Try to Trap Jesus (A)
15 Then the proud religious law-keepers got together to think how they could trap Jesus in His talk. 16 They sent their followers to Jesus with some of King Herod’s men. They asked, “Teacher, we know that You are true. We know that You are teaching the truth about God. We know You are not afraid of what men think or say about You. 17 Tell us what You think of this. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 Jesus knew their sinful thoughts and said, “You pretend to be someone you are not! Why do you try to trap Me? 19 Show Me a piece of money.” They brought Him a piece. 20 Jesus said to them, “Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” 22 When they heard this, they were surprised and wondered about it. Then they went away from Him.
Read full chapter
Matthew 22:15-22
New International Version
Matthew 22:15-22
New International Version
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](C) to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(D) and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(E)
Footnotes
- Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
Luke 20:19-26
New Life Version
Luke 20:19-26
New Life Version
They Try to Trap Jesus (A)
19 At this time the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law tried to take Jesus, but they were afraid of the people. These leaders knew Jesus had told this picture-story against them. 20 They watched Jesus and they sent men who pretended to be good people to watch Him. They wanted to trap Him in something He said. Then they could give Him over to the leader of the people who had the right and the power to say what to do with Him.
21 These men who were sent asked Jesus, “Teacher, we know what You say and teach is right. We know You do not show more respect to one person than to another. We know You teach the truth about God. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 23 Jesus knew they were trying to trap Him. He said, 24 “Show Me a piece of money. Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” And they said, “Caesar’s.” 25 Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” 26 They could find nothing wrong with what He taught. They were surprised and wondered about what He told the people, so they said nothing more.
Read full chapter
Luke 20:19-26
New International Version
Luke 20:19-26
New International Version
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him(A) immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.(B)
Paying Taxes to Caesar(C)
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(D) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(E) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(F) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(G) and to God what is God’s.”
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
New Life Version (NLV)
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.