The Question About Paying Taxes
Worship
In the Beginning Was the Word
Scriptures For The Lectionary Speaking Choir, Cycle A
Suggestions:
Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture readings.
6 readers - 1 young woman, 1 young man, 4 middle-aged and older men
Key:
1 = young woman storyteller
2, 3, 4, and 5 = men from oldest to youngest
6 = young man Jesus
1: Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying,
2: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.
3: Tell us, then, what you think.
4: Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor,
5: or not?"
1: But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,
6: "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax."
1: And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them,
6: "Whose head is this, and whose title?"
1: They answered,
2, 3, 4, 5: "The emperor's."
1: Then he said to them,
6: "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."
1: When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture readings.
6 readers - 1 young woman, 1 young man, 4 middle-aged and older men
Key:
1 = young woman storyteller
2, 3, 4, and 5 = men from oldest to youngest
6 = young man Jesus
1: Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying,
2: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.
3: Tell us, then, what you think.
4: Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor,
5: or not?"
1: But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,
6: "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax."
1: And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them,
6: "Whose head is this, and whose title?"
1: They answered,
2, 3, 4, 5: "The emperor's."
1: Then he said to them,
6: "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."
1: When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
