Single lesson
Giving to Caesar and to God
Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Giving to Caesar and to God, using two details from the reading. Jesus answered a dishonest test by saying people should give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give God what belongs to God.
Welcome: Giving to Caesar and to God
5 minIntroduce “Giving to Caesar and to God” and locate Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26. Jesus answered a dishonest test by saying people should give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give God what belongs to God. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Matthew 22:15, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:26
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe 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.
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.
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 selected verses together, pausing at “Giving to Caesar and to God”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Matthew 22:15, Mark 12:13, Luke 20:20, Matthew 22:19, Matthew 22:20, Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:15, Mark 12:16, Luke 20:24, Matthew 22:22, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25, Luke 20:26
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What shows that the question about taxes was meant as a trap?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Jesus answered a dishonest test by saying people should give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give God what belongs to God. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Matthew 22:15, Matthew 22:18, Mark 12:13, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:20, Luke 20:23, Matthew 22:19, Matthew 22:20, Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:16, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:24, Luke 20:25, Matthew 22:22, Luke 20:26
Make and respond: Read and respond sheet
12 minWork on “Giving to Caesar and to God: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Giving to Caesar and to God” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Matthew 22:15, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:26
Closing: return to Giving to Caesar and to God
3 minRevisit Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Giving to Caesar and to God and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Matthew 22:15, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:26
Questions to explore
What 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.
Matthew 22:15, Matthew 22:18, Mark 12:13, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:20, Luke 20:23
Why 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.
Matthew 22:19, Matthew 22:20, Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:16, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:24, Luke 20:25
How 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.
Matthew 22:22, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:26
Make, think or respond
Giving to Caesar and to God: Read and respond sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
- Read Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26. Use “Giving to Caesar and to God” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Giving to Caesar and to God connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Giving to Caesar and to God” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:19–26. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 22
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16 They 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.
17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
20 He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
21 They 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.”
22 When they heard it, they marveled, and left him and went away.
Mark 12
13 They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
14 When 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?
15 Shall 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.”
16 They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
17 Jesus 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 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.
20 They 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.
21 They 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.
22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?
24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”
25 He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.