He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
- BSB So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- NKJV And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
- NASB And He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
- NLT “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
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
Jesus says to give Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. Believers owe proper duty to the state and supreme allegiance to God.
Overview
Jesus affirms a legitimate obligation to civil authority while reserving ultimate allegiance for God, who alone bears the right to our whole selves. Just as the coin bears Caesar's image, human beings bear the image of God and so belong wholly to him. The answer silences his opponents and lays down an enduring principle for the believer's life under earthly governments.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 13:6–7For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
- Matt 17:27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
- Matt 22:21They 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.”
- Mark 12:17Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.
- Prov 24:21My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:
- 1 Pet 2:13–17Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Acts 4:19–20But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves,
- 1 Cor 10:31Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- 1 Pet 4:11If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 20:25 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.