Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
- BSB Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
- NKJV Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
- NASB Is it permissible for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
- NLT Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They ask whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. The question is a trap designed to discredit Jesus whichever way he answers.
Overview
A yes would alienate the people who resented Roman taxation, while a no could brand Jesus a rebel before Rome. The cleverly devised dilemma was meant to destroy him politically. Jesus's reply will transcend the trap and teach an enduring truth about God and earthly authority.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Neh 9:37It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
- Mark 12:14–17When 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?
- Neh 5:4There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
- Ezra 9:7Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
- Deut 17:15you shall surely set him king over yourselves, whom Yahweh your God chooses. You shall set as king over you one from among your brothers. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
- Matt 22:17–21Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
- Ezra 4:19–22I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
- Acts 5:37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
- Ezra 4:13Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
- Matt 17:25He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 20:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.