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Chapter 23 - Tax Money
1. When the Pharisees held counsel on how they could snare Jmmanuel in his speech, they sent their followers to him, including some of Herod's people.
2. They then said, "Master, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of the laws rightly, and don't inquire about anyone, since you do not care about people's reputations, but only about the laws of god and, in fact, the laws of Creation.
3. "Therefore, tell us your opinion. Is it right to pay tax to the emperor or not?"
4. But Jmmanuel sensed their malice and said, "You deceivers, hypocrites and swindlers, how low in intelligence and understanding are you that you want to tempt me in such a sick and foolish manner?
5. "Show me a tax coin so that I can heal you from your sick folly" And so they gave him a denarius.
6. And he said to them, "Whose image and whose inscription are on this coin?"
7. They replied, "-They are the emperor's.”