Prophet Zephaniah; Ven. Savva of Zvenigorod; Our Venerable Father John the Silent, Bishop of Colonia (558)

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. ⁵For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

⁶If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed. ⁷But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. ⁸For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now and of that which is to come. ¹⁶Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. ²⁰They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹They 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. ²²Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?

²⁴Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”

²⁵He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

²⁶They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.