A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Then the Pharisees went off and began to plot how they might trap Jesus in speech.  They sent their disciples to Jesus, accompanied by sympathizers of Herod, who said, “Teacher, we know you are honest, and teach God’s way sincerely.  You court no one’s favor and do not act out of

respect for important people.  Give us your opinion, then, in this case.  Is it lawful to pay tax to the Roman emperor or not?”

Jesus recognized their bad faith, and said to them, “Why are you trying to trip me up, you hypocrites?  Show me the coin which is used to pay the tax.”  When they handed Jesus a small Roman coin, Jesus asked them, “Whose head is this, and whose inscription?”  “Caesar’s,” they

replied.  At that, Jesus said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.”

The Good News as spoken through Matthew.