“ Teacher,” they said,“ we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us— is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

他们来了，就对他说：“夫子，我们知道你是诚实的，什么人你都不徇情面；因为你不看人的外貌，乃是诚诚实实传神的道。纳税给凯撒可以不可以？

他们来了，就对他说：“老师，我们知道你是诚实的，无论谁你都一视同仁；因为你不看人的面子，而是诚诚实实传上帝的道。纳税给凯撒合不合法？

他们来了，就对他说：“老师，我们知道你是诚实的，无论谁你都一视同仁；因为你不看人的面子，而是诚诚实实传神的道。纳税给凯撒合不合法？

他们上前对耶稣说：“老师，我们知道你诚实无伪，不看人的情面，因为你不以貌取人，而是按真理传上帝的道。那么，向凯撒纳税对不对呢？

他们来到了，就对他说：“老师，我们知道你为人诚实，不顾忌任何人，因为你不徇情面，只照着真理把神的道教导人。请问纳税给凯撒可以不可以？我们该纳不该纳呢？”

那些人来对耶稣说：“老师，我们知道你是真诚的。你不顾忌任何人，因为你不看人的情面，而是按真理教导神的道。请问，向凯撒纳税，可以不可以呢？我们该交还是不该交呢？”

他們來了，就對他說：「夫子，我們知道你是誠實的，甚麼人你都不徇情面；因為你不看人的外貌，乃是誠誠實實傳神的道。納稅給凱撒可以不可以？

他們來了，就對他說：「老師，我們知道你是誠實的，無論誰你都一視同仁；因為你不看人的面子，而是誠誠實實傳上帝的道。納稅給凱撒合不合法？

他們來了，就對他說：「老師，我們知道你是誠實的，無論誰你都一視同仁；因為你不看人的面子，而是誠誠實實傳神的道。納稅給凱撒合不合法？

他們上前對耶穌說：「老師，我們知道你誠實無偽，不看人的情面，因為你不以貌取人，而是按真理傳上帝的道。那麼，向凱撒納稅對不對呢？

他們來到了，就對他說：“老師，我們知道你為人誠實，不顧忌任何人，因為你不徇情面，只照著真理把神的道教導人。請問納稅給凱撒可以不可以？我們該納不該納呢？”

他們來對他說：『先生，我們曉得你很真誠；甚麼人你都不在乎；因為你不看人的外貌，你只憑真誠來教授上帝的道路。納丁稅給該撒可以不可以？

那些人來對耶穌說：「老師，我們知道你是真誠的。你不顧忌任何人，因為你不看人的情面，而是按真理教導神的道。請問，向凱撒納稅，可以不可以呢？我們該交還是不該交呢？」

既至、謂之曰、夫子、我知爾乃誠者、不徇乎人、蓋不以貌取人、而誠以上帝道訓人者也、納稅於該撒宜否、我儕納乎否乎、

乃就耶穌曰、先生、我知爾乃真者、不偏視人、不以貌取人、而以誠傳上帝道者也、納稅該撒宜否、

就耶穌曰、師、我儕知爾乃真者、不顧人議、不以貌取人、乃以真傳天主道者、納稅於該撒、宜否、納乎、抑不納乎、

乃曰：『夫子、吾知爾正直無私、不徇人情、惟天主之道是傳。敢問納稅於凱撒、理乎？

They came to him and said,“ Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?

They came to him and said,“ Teacher, we know that you are a man of honor. You don’t let other people tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. But you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?

And they came and said to him,“ Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”

When they came, they said to him,“ Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

They came and* said to Him,“ Teacher, we know that You are truthful and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God in truth. Is it permissible to pay a poll tax to Caesar, or not?

When they had come, they said to Him,“ Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

And when they were come, they say unto him, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest not for any one; for thou regardest not the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God: Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?

When they came, they said to Him,“ Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

When they came they said to him,“ Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

When they had come, they asked him,“ Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!

“ Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!

The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”

They began to state their case:“ This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.”

You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching.( By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)

Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.They say,“ We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own— who can stop us?”

Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people.

Jeremiah the prophet. They said,“ Please pray to the Lord your God for us. As you can see, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before.Pray that the Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go.”

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus.“ Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others,“ Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

For you were not being honest when you sent me to pray to the Lord your God for you. You said,‘ Just tell us what the Lord our God says, and we will do it!’

For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.

Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Micaiah replied,“ As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what my God says.”

You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly.

But as for me, I am filled with power— with the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and strength to boldly declare Israel’s sin and rebellion.

Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”

“ Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him,“ What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”“ They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.“ Well, then,” Jesus said,“ the citizens are free!However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Now tell us— is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils.While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!

The Levites obeyed your word and guarded your covenant. They were more loyal to you than to their own parents. They ignored their relatives and did not acknowledge their own children.They teach your regulations to Jacob; they give your instructions to Israel. They present incense before you and offer whole burnt offerings on the altar.

“ The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls.And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.

“ You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.“ If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner.If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.“ In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.

This is how the Lord responds:“ If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken!Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.