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Passion Week·Recorded in 3 of 4 Gospels

Paying Taxes to Caesar

MatthewMarkLuke

Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. He asks for a coin and replies, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Parallel Accounts

Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

LegendShared across accountsHighlightedUnique to that Gospel
Matthew
22:15-22

Could not load verse text.

Mark
12:13-17

Could not load verse text.

Luke
20:20-26

Could not load verse text.

JohnNot recorded in this Gospel

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.

All three Synoptics tell this nearly identically, but differ on who asks: Matthew says "Pharisees and Herodians," Mark agrees, while Luke says "spies who pretended to be sincere" sent by the scribes and chief priests. The denarius would have borne Tiberius's image with the inscription "Son of the Divine Augustus," making Jesus's question about the image politically charged.

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Matthew

Notes the questioners are disciples of the Pharisees along with Herodians.

Mark

Records Jesus recognizing their "hypocrisy" and asking, "Why put me to the test?"

Luke

Describes the questioners as spies pretending to be sincere, hoping to hand Jesus over to the governor.

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Connected Content
Phase in Jesus's Life
Passion Week

From the triumphal entry into Jerusalem through the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

All pericopes
Gospel Coverage
Matthew
22:15-22
John
not recorded