 The story is only found in Matthew , who was himself a tax collector according to Matthew 9 : 9 @-@ 13 . The passage has been used as a Christian justification for the legitimacy of secular authority , and is often seen in conjunction with another passage , the " render unto Caesar ... " story . In Matthew 22 : 15 – 22 , a group of Pharisees try to trick Christ into incriminating himself , by asking if it is " lawful to give tribute unto Caesar , or not . " Pointing out Caesar 's image on the coin , he replies " Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar 's ; and unto God the things that are God 's . " 
