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On Paying Taxes to the
Emperor † |
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Mt. 22:15-22 |
Mk. 12:13-17 |
Lk. 20:20-26 |
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15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to
entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along
with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and
teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one;
for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you
think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" 18 But Jesus,
aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you
hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him
a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose
title?" 21 They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to
them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's,
and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard this, they
were amazed; and they left him and went away. |
13 Then they sent to him some Pharisees and
some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14 And they came and said to him,
"Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one;
for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in
accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15
Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he
said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius
and let me see it." 16 And they brought one. Then he said to them,
"Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The
emperor's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things
that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they
were utterly amazed at him. |
20 So they watched him and sent spies who
pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand
him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked
him, "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and
you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with
truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" 23
But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 "Show me a
denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?" They said, "The
emperor's." 25 He said to them, "Then give to the emperor the
things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." 26
And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he
said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent. |
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† Cf. Kurt Aland, ed., Synopsis of the Four
Gospels, rev. printing, 1985, sec. 280, pp. 245-246 * NRSV |
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