Luke 20 22

Luke 20:22 kjv

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

Luke 20:22 nkjv

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Luke 20:22 niv

Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Luke 20:22 esv

Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"

Luke 20:22 nlt

Now tell us ? is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 22 Meaning

Luke 20:22 presents a cunning trap laid by the chief priests and scribes, executed through seemingly righteous spies. The question, "Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?", forced Jesus into a dilemma. A "yes" would brand Him as a Roman collaborator, alienating the Jewish populace who resented Roman taxation, especially the poll tax with its idolatrous implications. A "no" would portray Him as a rebel inciting sedition against Roman rule, leading to immediate arrest and execution. The question sought to destroy His authority, whether politically or religiously, by presenting a no-win scenario.

Luke 20 22 Context

Luke 20:22 is set in the Temple courts during the critical Passion Week, likely on a Tuesday. Prior to this, Jesus had challenged the authority of the religious leaders with His own question about John's baptism (Luke 20:1-8) and then taught parables that implicitly condemned them (Luke 20:9-19). Incensed and seeking to destroy Him, the chief priests and scribes sent their agents—spies posing as genuinely interested individuals—to ensnare Him with a politically and religiously charged question.

The historical backdrop is Roman occupation of Judea. Roman taxation, particularly the annual poll tax (tribute) levied on every adult, was a source of profound resentment. Not only was it a symbol of foreign subjugation, but the very denarius coin used for payment often bore the image of Caesar, along with inscriptions proclaiming his divinity ("son of divine Augustus" for Tiberius, the emperor at the time). For many pious Jews, handling such coins or paying such a tax felt like a blasphemous compromise, directly violating the First Commandment against idolatry and God's sole sovereignty over Israel. Different Jewish factions held varying views: the Zealots advocated violent resistance to Roman rule and taxation, while groups like the Herodians (sympathetic to Rome) and the more pragmatic Pharisees navigated a more accommodating stance. By asking if it was "lawful," the interrogators intended to expose Jesus as either a seditious rebel or a collaborator against His own people's religious conscience, thereby justifying His arrest or discrediting Him among the masses.

Luke 20 22 Word analysis

• Is it lawful (ἔξεστιν - exestin): This Greek word denotes permissibility or legitimacy. The questioners strategically use it to frame the issue in terms of both Jewish religious law (is it morally right, according to Torah principles?) and Roman civil law (is it legally permissible to resist Rome?). This duality was intended to trap Jesus, forcing Him to offend either the religious establishment or the Roman authorities.
• for us (ἡμῖν - hēmin): The use of the plural "us" emphasizes that this was presented as a communal, pressing concern for the Jewish people, not a personal inquiry. It feigned solidarity and piety to disguise their malicious intent. They wanted to project Jesus as deciding on behalf of the whole nation.
• to give (δοῦναι - dounai): The verb "to give" carries a connotation beyond mere payment. It implies surrender or acknowledgment of the payee's right. In this context, it suggested an act of submission to Roman authority, which was highly sensitive given the widespread desire for national liberation.
• tribute (φόρος - phoros): Specifically refers to the Roman poll-tax or head-tax, levied directly on individuals. This was the most detested form of Roman taxation, distinct from customs duties or property taxes. Its symbolic weight as an indicator of direct subjugation and its association with the blasphemous image on the denarius coin made it a central point of contention for many Jews.
• to Caesar (Καίσαρι - Kaisari): Refers to the Roman Emperor, at this time Tiberius. "Caesar" represented the occupying foreign power and, critically, a ruler who claimed divine honors. To pay taxes to Caesar was, for some, an implicit acknowledgment of his illegitimate authority or even his claimed divinity. The question pitted the earthly, imperial ruler against the supreme authority of God.
• or not?: This phrasing presents a direct, binary choice, intentionally removing any middle ground. The interrogators wanted a clear "yes" or "no" to create their trap. This structure left Jesus with no easy escape within human logic.

Words-group analysis

• "Is it lawful for us...to Caesar?": This entire phrase encapsulated the fundamental tension in Judean society under Roman occupation: the clash between secular obedience to a pagan power and unwavering allegiance to the one true God, especially when that power demanded recognition that bordered on blasphemy. The "for us" added a nationalist, collective dimension to what was presented as a profound ethical and theological dilemma.
• "to give tribute to Caesar": This phrase highlighted the very core of the political-religious predicament. The "tribute" symbolized national humiliation and perceived idolatry (due to the imperial effigy), while "to Caesar" represented the resented foreign dominance. Asking if this specific act was "lawful" forced Jesus to take a public stand on an issue that polarized Jewish society, either validating Roman tyranny or inciting rebellion.

Luke 20 22 Bonus section

The question regarding Caesar's tribute served a dual purpose beyond mere entrapment. Firstly, it subtly connected Jesus to the figure of a political liberator (like the Zealots) whom many hoped the Messiah would be, allowing His accusers later to falsely present Him to Pilate as someone "perverting our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar" (Luke 23:2). This malicious distortion of His response ultimately contributed to His crucifixion.

Secondly, the very act of bringing out a denarius and showing its image and inscription to Jesus, likely implies that the interrogators themselves were carrying and using such coins, despite their feigned piety and concern about its "lawfulness." This reveals a deep hypocrisy, as they questioned Jesus on an issue where their own practices contradicted their stated concerns. They held the very object they implied was problematic. This highlights that their primary concern was not theological purity, but entrapping Jesus.

Luke 20 22 Commentary

Luke 20:22 stands as a testament to the profound wisdom of Jesus and the cunning, yet ultimately futile, efforts of His adversaries to ensnare Him. The question about tribute to Caesar was a masterfully crafted trap, exploiting the deep political and religious divisions within Judea under Roman rule. By demanding a simple "yes" or "no," the religious leaders sought to expose Jesus as either a seditionist in the eyes of Rome (if He said "no") or a religious compromiser in the eyes of the zealous Jewish population (if He said "yes"). Either answer would discredit His claim to messianic authority or lead to His arrest.

Jesus, however, discerned their wicked intent. His response, revealed in the following verses (Luke 20:23-25), utterly dismantled their scheme not by choosing a side, but by transcending the false dichotomy. By asking for a coin and pointing to Caesar's image and inscription on it, He established a principle: that which bears Caesar's image belongs to Caesar. Yet, by immediately following with "render to God what is God's," Jesus reminded them, and us, of the ultimate claim God has on all creation, including humanity, which bears God's image (Gen 1:26-27). This wasn't merely a political evasion but a theological reorientation, clarifying the relationship between divine and civil authority. It establishes that believers have responsibilities to governing authorities, including paying taxes (Rom 13:6-7), yet their ultimate loyalty, devotion, and essence belong to God.

This encounter powerfully illustrates Jesus' unparalleled wisdom and ability to turn His enemies' snares into profound teachings. It affirmed His understanding of the distinct, yet not mutually exclusive, claims of both earthly rulers and the heavenly King. Christians are called to be faithful citizens of both earthly and heavenly kingdoms, with ultimate allegiance resting with God.

• For example, in civic duties, we honor leaders and pay taxes as citizens of a nation.
• Yet, in matters of faith, we follow God's commands above all others when there is a conflict.