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16 They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians,[a] saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. 17 [b]Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” 18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?

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Footnotes

  1. 22:16 Herodians: see note on Mk 3:6. They would favor payment of the tax; the Pharisees did not.
  2. 22:17 Is it lawful: the law to which they refer is the law of God.

16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(A) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](B) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens