Matthew 22 17

Matthew 22:17 kjv

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Matthew 22:17 nkjv

Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

Matthew 22:17 niv

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"

Matthew 22:17 esv

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

Matthew 22:17 nlt

Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Matthew 22 verses

Matthew 22 17 Meaning

Matthew 22:17 records the question put to Jesus by an alliance of Pharisees and Herodians: "Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" This was a deliberately framed, leading question designed to entrap Jesus, forcing Him to take a position that would either alienate the Jewish population (by advocating submission to Roman taxation) or provoke the Roman authorities (by advocating resistance). It demanded a clear "yes" or "no" answer, each option carrying significant political and religious consequences.

Matthew 22 17 Context

Matthew chapter 22 falls within Jesus' final days in Jerusalem, during what is traditionally known as Passion Week. This period is marked by increasing tension and confrontations between Jesus and the religious authorities. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus had silenced the chief priests and elders through parables that condemned their rejection of God's invitation and challenged their authority (Mt 21:28-22:14). Consequently, these religious leaders, deeply threatened by Jesus' growing influence, sought new ways to discredit or arrest Him. Their strategy, as shown in Mt 22:15, was "how they might entangle Him in His talk." This specific question about tribute to Caesar, a volatile political and religious issue, represents a cunning trap set by an unlikely alliance of Pharisees and Herodians, both typically adversaries but united in their opposition to Jesus. The historical context includes Judea being a Roman province, heavily taxed by the occupying power. For many Jews, especially the more nationalist groups, paying the census (tribute or poll tax) to Caesar was viewed as an acknowledgement of his sovereignty, which was seen as blasphemous by those who believed God alone was the King of Israel. On the other hand, denying Caesar's right to tribute would constitute sedition against Rome.

Matthew 22 17 Word analysis

• Tell us therefore (Eipe oun hēmin - from eipon "to say," oun "therefore," hēmin "to us"): This phrasing signals a demand for an explicit statement, highlighting the adversaries' intention to force a clear and compromising position from Jesus. It’s not an innocent inquiry but a pre-calculated challenge.
• what thinkest thou? (Ti soi dokei - from tis "what," soi "to you," dokeō "to seem, think"): This direct appeal to Jesus' personal judgment or opinion (lit., "What seems to you?") amplifies the challenge, aiming to elicit a subjective answer that they could then manipulate, either against the Law or against Rome. It pits His authority directly against an entrenched dilemma.
• Is it lawful (Exestin - from exesti "it is lawful," "it is permitted"): This term inquires about permissibility, carrying both religious (is it allowed by God's Law?) and legal (is it permissible under Roman Law?) implications. The adversaries sought to define "lawful" through their narrow perspectives, hoping to force Jesus into contradicting one of these domains. The verb form implies absolute legality.
• to give tribute (dounai kēnsos - from didōmi "to give," kēnsos "tribute, tax, census"): Kēnsos (Latin: census) refers specifically to the Roman "poll tax" or head tax. This tax was highly symbolic of Roman subjugation, as it was a direct tax on individuals within occupied territories, distinct from duties or land taxes. It required Roman coinage, usually bearing Caesar's image, further inflaming Jewish sensibilities regarding idolatry.
• unto Caesar (Kaisari - from Kaisar "Caesar"): Refers to the Roman Emperor, at this time Tiberius Caesar. The Roman emperor cult meant that Caesar was often venerated, making payment of taxes to him, especially with coins bearing his image and inscription, seem like complicity in idolatry to strict monotheistic Jews. He represented the supreme earthly power oppressing Israel.
• or not? (ē ou - "or not"): This closing phrase deliberately creates a dichotomy, pressing for a binary answer (yes/no) and underscoring the trap. There was no middle ground offered by the questioners, indicating their intent to corner Jesus rather than seek genuine understanding.

Matthew 22 17 Bonus section

The alliance between the Pharisees and Herodians was highly unusual. The Pharisees were typically anti-Herodian due to their support for Roman rule, while the Herodians, being loyal to the Roman-appointed Herodian dynasty, often sided with Rome. Their temporary union underscores the extreme degree of threat they perceived from Jesus, overriding their sectarian differences in a desperate attempt to discredit Him. This unholy alliance exemplifies how even enemies can unite against the truth. The term "lawful" itself highlights the religious authorities' obsession with their interpretation of the Law, often overlooking justice, mercy, and faithfulness (as Jesus often pointed out).

Matthew 22 17 Commentary

Matthew 22:17 is a pivotal verse in the series of challenges Jesus faced during His final days in Jerusalem. The question itself, whether it is "lawful" to pay tribute to Caesar, reveals the cunning and malice of Jesus' opponents. They created a political-theological dilemma from which, humanly speaking, there was no escape. If Jesus affirmed payment, He would lose favor with the populace who despised Roman rule and appear to disregard God's sole sovereignty over Israel. If He denied payment, He would be an instigator of sedition against the Roman Empire, providing grounds for His arrest and execution.

Jesus, however, demonstrates divine wisdom. His response (not found in this verse but crucial to understanding the context of the question), transcends the simplistic "yes" or "no" they demanded. By asking whose image was on the coin (Mt 22:19-20) and then famously declaring, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Mt 22:21), Jesus sidestepped the trap while establishing a profound theological principle. He acknowledged the legitimacy of civil authority and taxation, rooted in the use of currency sanctioned by that authority, but concurrently underscored the paramount claim of God on humanity – particularly on human beings made in God's image. This teaches that followers of God have responsibilities to both earthly governance and heavenly authority, discerning the boundaries and prioritizing God where allegiances might conflict. The believer is called to be a good citizen in both realms, understanding that all earthly authority ultimately falls under divine sovereignty.