Matthew 22:15-22 · Bible study
Matthew 22:15-22 Commentary: Render to Caesar, Render to God
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus escapes a trap by Pharisees and Herodians, teaching the right balance of civic and divine duty in one profound statement.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus evades a trap about paying taxes, teaching that believers owe both civil obedience and wholehearted devotion to God.
- Key words: παγιδεύσωσιν (ensnare), δηνάριον (denarius), εἰκών (image), ἀπόδοτε (render/pay back).
- Main debate: Does Jesus separate church and state, subordinate the state to God, or establish parallel obligations? All traditions affirm that God’s claim is ultimate.
- Theological theme: Jesus’ authority over all spheres, political and spiritual, and the call to give God what bears His image: ourselves.
- Best use: Teaching Christians about their dual citizenship and the need for discernment when faith and politics seem to conflict.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
15Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.
16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
17So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?
19Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
20“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”
21“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not?
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21They say unto him, Cesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk.
16And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?
19Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
22And when they heard it, they marvelled, and left him, and went away.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
15Then the Pharisees having gone, took counsel how they might ensnare him in words,
16and they send to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, `Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and the way of God in truth thou dost teach, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men;
17tell us, therefore, what dost thou think? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?'
18And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, `Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites?
19show me the tribute-coin?' and they brought to him a denary;
20and he saith to them, `Whose is this image and the inscription?'
21they say to him, `Caesar's;' then saith he to them, `Render therefore the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;'
22and having heard they wondered, and having left him they went away.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
15Then went the Pharisees and held a council how they might ensnare him in speaking.
16And they send out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one, for thou regardest not men's person;
17tell us therefore what thou thinkest: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
18But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, Why tempt ye me, hypocrites?
19Shew me the money of the tribute. And they presented to him a denarius.
20And he says to them, Whose [is] this image and superscription?
21They say to him, Caesar's. Then he says to them, Pay then what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God.
22And when they heard [him], they wondered, and left him, and went away.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
15Then the Pharisees going, consulted among themselves how to insnare him in his speech.
16And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker and teachest the way of God in truth. Neither carest thou for any man: for thou dost not regard the person of men.
17Tell us therefore what dost thou think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
18But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt me, ye hypocrites?
19Shew me the coin of the tribute. And they offered him a penny.
20And Jesus saith to them: Whose image and inscription is this?
21They say to him: Caesar's. Then he saith to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God, the things that are God's.
22And hearing this, they wondered and, leaving him, went their ways.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 22:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this passage records a carefully laid trap. Vincent’s Word Studies points out that the Greek verb παγιδεύσωσιν means “to ensnare,” like a bird caught in a fowler’s net. The Cambridge Bible notes the unnatural coalition: Pharisees, who resisted foreign rule, joined with Herodians, who accepted Rome’s authority. Barnes adds that if Jesus said paying taxes was lawful, the Pharisees would turn the people against Him; if He said it was not, the Herodians would accuse Him before the governor. Calvin writes that Jesus “perceived their wickedness” because He was God and knew their hearts. Clarke observes that the coin’s image and inscription proved Caesar’s authority, and Jesus’ answer, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”, satisfied Caesar, glorified God, and edified the people. The questioners marveled and left. The core lesson holds: believers owe both civil obligations and wholehearted devotion to God, without allowing one to cancel the other.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus avoided the trap by affirming the obligation to pay taxes while also asserting the supreme claim of God over all human authority.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'Render to Caesar' | Christians agree Jesus teaches that believers have obligations to civil government, such as paying taxes. | Some traditions see a strict separation of spheres (Lutheran two-kingdoms), others see the state's authority as ultimately under God (Reformed), and Catholic social teaching sees a partnership between temporal and spiritual authorities. |
| Identity of the Herodians | They were supporters of the Herodian dynasty who accepted Roman rule. | Some scholars see them as a purely political party; others as a religious sect with Sadducean leanings or libertine practices. The exact nature is not specified in the Gospels. |
| Jesus' knowledge of their malice | Jesus perceived their evil intent. | Orthodox and Catholic traditions affirm Jesus' divine omniscience; Protestant traditions often emphasize the Spirit's revelation to Him as the God-man. |
| The coin's significance | The denarius with Caesar's image proved the Jews' subjection to Rome. | Some focus on the coin's image as a violation of the second commandment; others on its legal tender status as an acknowledgment of Caesar's rule. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Judea in the first century was under Roman occupation. The tribute tax, a denarius per person per year, was a constant reminder of submission to a foreign power. For many Jews, paying this tax violated Deuteronomy’s command not to set a foreign king over them (Deut 17:15, a point Barnes and Cambridge both note). The coin itself was a denarius, about a day’s wage, stamped with the emperor’s image and a Latin inscription declaring his divinity. Vincent remarks that images on coins offended Jewish sensibilities; the Herods had avoided them on local coinage, but this Roman coin bore Caesar’s likeness.
The two groups that came to Jesus could not be more different. The Pharisees were strict interpreters of the Law, popular with the people, and hostile to Rome’s presence. The Herodians supported the Herodian dynasty and accepted Roman rule; Barnes says they believed it lawful to pay tribute when a nation was overpowered by force. By sending their disciples together, they hoped to appear neutral and to trap Jesus regardless of His answer. The question “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” was a perfect political bomb. If Jesus said yes, He lost the crowds; if no, He could be arrested as a rebel.
Jesus did not take the bait. He asked for the tribute coin and held it up. By their own admission, it was Caesar’s. The coin’s circulation already proved their subjection. With one command, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”, He acknowledged the government’s legitimate role while elevating God’s ultimate claim. The trap collapsed; the questioners left amazed.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The Synoptic parallels in Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:20-26 are in close agreement, with minor differences in wording that do not affect meaning.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this passage shaped Christian thinking on civil authority. Early Christians saw it as a mandate to honor civil authorities unless they demand what belongs to God. During the Reformation, it supported the two-kingdoms theology, distinguishing God's governance of the secular realm from the spiritual. In the modern era, it remains central to discussions of Christian civic duty and the limits of obedience to the state. Across traditions, believers agree that Jesus calls us to a dual loyalty, with God's claim standing above all earthly powers.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Trap (vv.15-17): An unholy alliance of Pharisees and Herodians uses flattery and a loaded question to force Jesus into a political corner.
- The Escape (vv.18-21): Jesus perceives their malice, calls them hypocrites, and uses the very coin they carry to expose their hypocrisy.
- The Teaching (v.21): The command to “render to Caesar” and “to God” establishes a principle of dual allegiance, God’s claim is supreme, but Caesar’s is real.
Five-point outline
- Unholy alliances: When enemies unite against truth, expect cunning tactics (Ps 2:2).
- Flattery as bait: The address “Teacher, we know that you are true” was insincere praise meant to lower His guard.
- The loaded question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” was designed to force a yes/no answer with deadly consequences.
- Jesus’ perceptive response: Knowing their wickedness (Calvin: “His Spirit was a discerner of hearts”), He exposes the trap and answers with a question.
- The wise answer and its implications: “Render to Caesar” does not betray God; it honors both realms, with God’s kingdom holding the final claim.
Illustration hooks
- Think of a coin with the current president’s face. Using that coin every day already acknowledges the government’s authority, the tax question is already answered by daily practice.
- A boss asks you to cut a corner that goes against your faith, but you need the job. This story models how to speak truth while staying respectful.
- The tension between loving your country and worshipping God is real. This verse offers a framework, not a formula, for that tension.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Should Christians pay taxes if the government uses the money for things we oppose?
- How do I decide what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God in my everyday life?
- Is there ever a time when we must say no to government for the sake of God?
Leading a Discussion
This story shows Jesus facing a political-religious trap with wisdom, courage, and clarity. His answer does not give us a simple rule but a principle that invites reflection on where our ultimate loyalty lies. Use these questions to explore how this ancient encounter speaks to our own dual citizenship.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What makes the alliance of Pharisees and Herodians surprising? Why would they work together?
- Interpretation: Why did the question about paying taxes put Jesus in a difficult spot? What did each group stand to gain or lose depending on His answer?
- Interpretation: Jesus called His questioners “hypocrites.” What does that reveal about the difference between seeking truth and trying to trap someone?
- Interpretation: What does the denarius actually show? (Think about the image, the inscription, and whose coin it was.)
- Application: Jesus says to give “to God the things that are God’s.” What does that include? (Consider what bears God’s image.)
- Application: How can a Christian show respect to government without compromising devotion to God? Can you think of a modern example?
- Application: When, if ever, should a Christian refuse to “render to Caesar”? What would guide that decision?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 2:2 | The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying, |
| Psalms 41:6 | If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it. |
| Psalms 56:5 | All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil. |
| Psalms 56:7 | Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God. |
| Psalms 57:6 | They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the middle of it themselves. Selah. |
| Psalms 59:3 | For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh. |
| Isaiah 29:21 | who cause a person to be indicted by a word, and lay a snare for one who reproves in the gate, and who deprive the innocent of justice with false testimony. |
| Jeremiah 18:18 | Then they said, “Come! Let’s devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law won’t perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let’s strike him with the tongue, and let’s not give heed to any of his words.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the Pharisees' deep malice: they flatter Jesus and ally with the Herodians to trap him on political ground. His wise answer makes them confess the coin is Caesar's, then uses that admission to teach both duty to the government and the soul's higher allegiance to God.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights how the opponents' question was a carefully laid trap, exploiting the
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights that by producing a coin stamped with Caesar's image, the Pharisees already admitted their subjection to Roman rule. Jesus therefore does not impose a new duty but simply states what the coin itself proves: they must render to Caesar what is his, while never failing to render to God what belongs to God. This answer draws a clear line between civil obedience and spiritual loyalty.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that the coin bearing Caesar's image and inscription silently acknowledged his authority over them, and he cites a Jewish legal principle: a king whose currency is current is considered their lord. Thus the Pharisees' own tradition obligated them to pay tribute, exposing the hypocrisy behind their entrapment.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that this encounter marks a new kind of attack on Jesus. Earlier opponents relied on their authority and power, but here the Pharisees try to trap him through learned arguments about the law, making this a fresh trial of his wisdom.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights the word "entangle" as "ensnare," showing the Pharisees' trap. He notes the coin shown to Jesus was Roman tribute money, not Jewish coinage, because Jews disapproved of images. The presence of Caesar's image meant the Pharisees had such a coin, underscoring their hypocrisy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley points out that the coin itself answers the question: the very tribute money, stamped with Caesar's image, proves the Jews were under his government. By possessing and using that coin, they already acknowledged his authority. So Jesus' command to render to Caesar is based on their own acceptance of his rule, and the same logic applies to rendering to God.