184. Discourse in the Temple: “Should We Give Tribute to Caesar?” Mt. 22:15–22; Mk. 12:13–17; Lk. 20:20–26

Then the Pharisees, having left him, went away; and they took counsel together as to how they might entrap him in his words; and watching him closely, they sent some of their disciples with the Herodians, wishing to catch him in his talk. And they came and said to him: “Teacher! We know that you are truthful, speak the truth, and teach the way of God truthfully, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard the position of people. Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

“But the Lord Jesus, seeing their malice and perceiving their wickedness, said to them: ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a coin. He said to them: ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ 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.’”

“And they were not able to trap him in what he said before the people. But marveling at his answer, they fell silent and, leaving him, went away.”