Read & explore together
Giving to Caesar and to God
Religious leaders asked Jesus a loaded question about paying tax to Caesar. In his reply, Jesus exposed their trap and made a clear distinction between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
Matthew, Mark and Luke each describe one question put to Jesus by opponents who wanted to trap him in what he said. They approached with flattering words, asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, and Jesus answered by asking for a denarius and pointing to its image and inscription.
Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26Main takeaway
Jesus answered a dishonest test by saying people should give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give God what belongs to God.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A planned trapThe question did not come from honest curiosity. Matthew says the Pharisees took counsel to entrap Jesus in his talk, Mark says they wanted to trap him with words, and Luke says spies were sent to catch him in something he said.
Explanation
The question did not come from honest curiosity. Matthew says the Pharisees took counsel to entrap Jesus in his talk, Mark says they wanted to trap him with words, and Luke says spies were sent to catch him in something he said. Luke also says they hoped to hand him over to the governor’s authority.
02Flattering words before the testThey began by praising Jesus as honest, impartial and true in teaching the way of God. Then they asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.
Explanation
They began by praising Jesus as honest, impartial and true in teaching the way of God. Then they asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Mark makes the pressure of the question especially plain by adding, “Shall we give, or shall we not give?” Jesus recognised that this was a test, not straightforward respect.
03The denarius and Caesar’s imageJesus asked to be shown the tax money, a denarius. He then asked whose image and inscription were on it.
Explanation
Jesus asked to be shown the tax money, a denarius. He then asked whose image and inscription were on it. They answered, “Caesar’s.” The coin itself became part of the answer. Jesus directed attention to what was plainly visible on the denarius before he spoke his conclusion.
04Jesus’ answer and their reactionJesus said, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Explanation
Jesus said, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” None of the three accounts says his opponents trapped him. Instead, they marvelled. Matthew says they left and went away, while Luke says they were silent before the people.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew 22:15–22 | A planned trap Flattering words before the test The denarius and Caesar’s image Jesus’ answer and their reaction |
| Mark | Mark 12:13–17 | A planned trap Flattering words before the test The denarius and Caesar’s image Jesus’ answer and their reaction |
| Luke | Luke 20:19–26 | A planned trap Flattering words before the test The denarius and Caesar’s image Jesus’ answer and their reaction |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What shows that the question about taxes was meant as a trap?
Look for the stated purpose before the question is asked and notice words such as entrap, trap, spies, wickedness, hypocrisy and craftiness.
02Why did Jesus ask about the image and inscription on the denarius?
Follow the order of the passage and see how the answer “Caesar’s” leads directly into Jesus’ statement about what belongs to Caesar.
03How did the people who questioned Jesus respond after hearing his answer?
Compare the ending lines in each account and notice the shared response of amazement and the failure of their trap.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 22:15–22
15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach; for you aren’t partial to anyone.
17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
20He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
21They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22When they heard it, they marveled, and left him and went away.
Mark 12:13–17
13They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
15Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”
16They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
17Jesus answered them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.
Luke 20:19–26
19The 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.