Luke 20:21

¹⁹ When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

²⁰ So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

²³ But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
KJV: And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
WEB: They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.
ASV: And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person [of any], but of a truth teachest the way of God:
DARBY: And they asked him saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest no [man's] person, but teachest with truth the way of God:
BLB: And they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach rightly and do not receive [any] person, but teach the way of God on the basis of truth.

ÅB: Og de spurte ham og sa: Mester! vi vet at du taler og lærer rett og gjør ikke forskjell på folk, men lærer Guds vei i sannhet;
OTB: Spionene spurte ham og sa: «Mester, vi vet at du taler og lærer rett, og du viser ingen partiskhet, men lærer Guds vei i sannhet.
B1930: Og de spurte ham og sa: Mester! vi vet at du taler og lærer rett og gjør ikke forskjell på folk, men lærer Guds vei i sannhet;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Thessalonians 2:4–5
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
Read in context
Matthew 22:16
They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
Read in context
Matthew 26:49–50
Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
Read in context
Psalms 55:21
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
Read in context
Psalms 12:2
They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
Read in context
Mark 12:14
“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
Read in context
John 3:2
He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
Read in context