Matthew 22:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

NIV: Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"

NASB: Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?'

CSB: Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

NLT: Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'

KJV: Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

NKJV: Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Some Pharisees who want to get rid of Jesus have sent their disciples to spring a trap. They plan to soften Jesus up with flattery (Matthew 22:16), then pose a hard question. They hope His answer will offend His Jewish followers or get Him in trouble with the Romans. To further disguise their intent, they have recruited people from a group known as the Herodians to approach Jesus along with their own students. This setup attempts to give the illusion that a young group is asking Jesus to arbitrate a dispute. Jesus, however, is not fooled at all (Matthew 22:18).

Now they pop this dangerous question: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

The tax in question is apparently the Roman "head tax," demanded from every Jewish citizen. The Pharisees, as cultural and religious purists, despised even the idea of paying taxes to a foreign, godless government. Those loyal to Jesus who hoped He was the Messiah may have wanted Him to signal the time for revolt by announcing that they should not pay the tax any longer. The Pharisees hope if Jesus says it is lawful to pay this tax, He will lose a sizeable number of followers. That will create an opening for them to have Jesus killed.

On the other hand, the Herodians wanted the Romans to trust them enough to make a Herod king over all of Israel once more. Because of that, they would not want to cause any unrest in Israel. If Jesus said not to pay the tax, the Herodians might be able to have Jesus arrested as a rebel and executed by the Romans.

The trap was set. Would Jesus risk offending His followers, suffering under a huge tax burden, by saying the law demanded they pay the tax? Or would He risk losing His freedom and life by saying they should defy Roman control and stop paying the tax? His answer, as usual, is brilliant and completely diffuses their attack.

Matthew 22:15–22 is a famous event, containing Jesus' response to the issue of taxes. This moment is also depicted in Mark 12:13–17 and Luke 20:20–26. In that context, Jewish people resented being forced to pay those fees to Rome. This makes the challenge a trap: the Pharisees want Jesus to make an unpopular statement or open Himself to arrest for rebellion against the Roman Empire. Instead, Jesus points out that the Roman denarius has Caesar's image on it. He then tells the people to give Caesar what is his and give God what is God's. This subtly implies that we should give ourselves to God, since we bear His image (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 22:37).

Continuing a dialogue with hostile religious leaders, Jesus tells a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast which ends up being attended by those not initially invited. He answers trick questions about taxes, marriage, resurrection, and the Law of Moses. These responses are the source of common English idioms such as "render to Caesar…" and "many are called but few are chosen." Finally, Jesus asks how the Messiah can be both the son of David and the Lord of David. None can answer Him, so they stop challenging Him in public.

This chapter extends an exchange between Jesus and several groups of religious leaders in the temple. The previous chapter concluded with two parables about the failures of the religious leaders. This chapter begins with a third parable, about chosen guests who refuse to attend a wedding feast. Jesus then fields questions from several religious groups, who fail in their attempts to trip Him up. His wise and profound answers silence all of them. At this point, Jesus launches into a full-throated condemnation of the Pharisees in chapter 23.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.