CAESAR'S THINGS...AND GOD'S

Passage: Matthew 22:15-22

Key verse: 21b

NIV

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(A)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](C) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(D) and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(E)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 (A)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how (B)to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent (C)their disciples to him, along with (D)the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, (E)we know that you are true and teach (F)the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for (G)you are not swayed by appearances.[a] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay (H)taxes to (I)Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why (J)put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.[b] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, (K)“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they (L)left him and went away.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 22:16 Greek for you do not look at people's faces
  2. Matthew 22:19 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's (15-17)

The Roman army enforced Roman peace in Israel. The Jews especially resented paying taxes to Rome. Some felt that it was disloyal to God to support such an evil system. The Pharisees were trying to entrap Jesus when they asked him about paying taxes. But their patriotism was a mask for selfishness--they did not want to give anything to anyone. Jesus exposes selfishness which wears religion as a mask.

2. Give to God what is God's (18-22)

The Roman coin bore Caesar's image and inscription, but God's image is in every person. He is our Creator. We belong to him. When we give ourselves to God, worldly power cannot control us. Jesus taug ht us that we should pay what we owe. Most importantly, we must give our hearts and our bodies to God our Creator by obeying his word and accepting his sovereignty.

Prayer: Lord, forgive my selfishness; help me to fulfill my human obligations and to give myself to you.

One Word: Give to Caesar; give to God