Luke 20:19-26

Tribute to Caesar

19 The scribes and the chief priests ¹tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.

20 ²So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order ³that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of ⁴the governor.

21 They questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial * to any, but teach the way of God in truth.

22 "Is it lawful for us ⁵to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

23 But He detected their trickery and said to them,

24 "Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's."

25 And He said to them, "Then ⁶render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

26 And they were unable * to ⁷catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 19:47
• 2. Luke 20:20-26: {Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17;} Mark 3:2
• 3. Luke 11:54; Luke 20:26
• 4. Matthew 27:2
• 5. Matthew 17:25; Luke 23:2
• 6. Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17
• 7. Luke 11:54

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "falsely represented themselves"
• [b] Lit "take hold of His word"
• [c] Lit "do not receive a face"
• [d] Or "permissible"
• [e] The denarius was a day's wages
• [f] Lit "image"
• [g] Lit "catch His statement"