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VRSZ
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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Justin Martyr
And everywhere we, more readily than all men, endeavour to pay to those appointed by you the taxes both ordinary and extraordinary, as we have been taught by Him; for at that time some came to Him and asked Him, if one ought to pay tribute to Caesar; and He answered, "Tell Me, whose image does the coin bear?" And they said, "Caesar's." And again He answered them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Whence to God alone we render worship, but in other things we gladly serve …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
When they saw miracles in the Lord, the same enemies said: Tell us, by what power do you do these things? They asked with an inimical mind, so that if he confessed his power, they might hold him as a blasphemer. But how did he act with the coin, when they wanted to accuse him: if he said, Pay tribute to Caesar, as if he had spoken against the Jewish people, making them subject and tributary; if he said, Do not pay, they could denounce him to Caesar's friends and ministers for prohibiting the payment; but he said: Show me the coin. …
Bede
This they say, to entice Him to tell them that they ought not to pay tribute, in order that the servants of the guard, (who according to the other Evangelists are said to have been present,) might immediately upon hearing it seize Him as the leader of a sedition against the Romans. And so they proceed to ask, Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not? …
Bonaventure
And this is evident from their crafty interrogation, when it is added: Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not? according to the decree of divine law; in this they propose a deceitful question because, whichever answer is given, they intend to lead him into an absurdity. …
Translation