17. But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?’
18. Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”
19. The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.
20. They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
21. They asked him, “Rabbi, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.
22. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?
24. Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”
25. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26. They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marvelled at his answer and were silent.
27. Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.
28. They asked him, “Rabbi, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother.