19. The legal experts and chief priests wanted to arrest him right then because they knew he had told this parable against them. But they feared the people.
20. The legal experts and chief priests were watching Jesus closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to trap him in his words so they could hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.
21. They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are correct in what you say and teach. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is.
22. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
23. Since Jesus recognized their deception, he said to them,
24. "Show me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have on it?" "Caesar’s," they replied.
25. He said to them, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."