Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
- KJV Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
- 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 9:37Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.
- Mark 12:14–17“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
- Neh 5:4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.
- Ezra 9:7From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.
- Deut 17:15you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.
- Matt 22:17–21So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
- Ezra 4:19–22I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
- Acts 5:37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.
- Ezra 4:13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
- Matt 17:25“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.