Luke 20:20-26

Contemporary English Version

Paying Taxes

(Matthew 22.15-22; Mark 12.13-17)

²⁰ Jesus' enemies kept watching him closely, because they wanted to hand him over to the Roman governor. So they sent some men who pretended to be good. But they were really spies trying to catch Jesus saying something wrong. ²¹ The spies said to him, “Teacher, we know you teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. ²² Tell us, should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”

²³ Jesus knew they were trying to trick him. So he told them, ²⁴ “Show me a coin.” Then he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?”

“The Emperor's,” they answered.

²⁵ Then he told them, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.” ²⁶ Jesus' enemies could not catch him saying anything wrong there in front of the people. They were amazed at his answer and kept quiet.