15Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap him in his words. [22:16] And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you care nothing for anyone's opinion, for you do not look at the face of men. [22:17] Tell us then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar or not?" [22:18] But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? [22:19] Show me the coin of the poll-tax." And they brought him a denarius. [22:20] And he said to them, "Whose image is this, and whose inscription?" [22:21] They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." [22:22] And when they heard it, they marveled and left him and went away.
MAT 22:15-22
Paying Taxes to Caesar
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Judea, the question of paying taxes to Caesar was deeply political and religious. Roman taxation was a symbol of imperial domination, resented by many Jews as a violation of God’s sovereignty. The Pharisees, who sought to maintain Jewish religious integrity, and the Herodians, who collaborated with Roman rule, formed an unlikely alliance to trap Jesus. The denarius, the coin used for the tax, bore Caesar’s image and inscription, which Jews viewed as idolatrous. By asking whether it was lawful to pay the tax, they aimed to force Jesus into either opposing Rome, risking charges of sedition, or alienating Jewish nationalists. Jesus’ response, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,' subverted their trap. It acknowledged Caesar’s claim on the coin while affirming God’s ultimate authority, a nuanced stance that avoided direct confrontation with Rome or compromise of Jewish faith.
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How other translations render this
MAT 22:15
- KJV
- Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
- BSB
- Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.
- Koinōnos
- Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap him in his words.
MAT 22:16
- KJV
- And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you care nothing for anyone's opinion, for you do not look at the face of men.
MAT 22:17
- KJV
- Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
- BSB
- So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
- Koinōnos
- Tell us then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar or not?
MAT 22:18
- KJV
- But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
- BSB
- But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
MAT 22:19
- KJV
- Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
- BSB
- Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
- Koinōnos
- Show me the coin of the poll-tax." And they brought him a denarius.
MAT 22:20
- KJV
- And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
- BSB
- “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them, "Whose image is this, and whose inscription?
MAT 22:21
- KJV
- They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
- BSB
- “Caesarʼs,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesarʼs, and to God what is Godʼs.”
- Koinōnos
- They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
MAT 22:22
- KJV
- When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
- BSB
- And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
- Koinōnos
- And when they heard it, they marveled and left him and went away.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 22:15
- counsel:The word translated 'counsel' here refers to a formal meeting or consultation, often with an underlying sense of plotting or malicious intent, especially when discussing legal or political strategies.
MAT 22:16
- Herodians:The 'Herodians' were a political faction in 1st-century Judea who supported the Herodian dynasty and, by extension, Roman rule, making them political opponents of many Jewish groups.
MAT 22:18
- malice:The word translated 'malice' describes a state of active wickedness, depravity, or knavery, indicating a deliberate intention to do harm or evil.
MAT 22:21
- do give back:The phrase 'do give back' carries the sense of rendering what is due or owed, implying a legal or moral obligation to return something that rightfully belongs to another.