Matthew 22:20 kjv
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Matthew 22:20 nkjv
And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"
Matthew 22:20 niv
and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
Matthew 22:20 esv
And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
Matthew 22:20 nlt
he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"
Matthew 22 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 17:24-27 | When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter... Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax?..." Yet, so that we may not offend them, go to the sea and cast a hook... | Jesus' prior instruction on taxes; submission. |
| Mk 12:15-16 | But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" They said to him, "Caesar's." | Parallel account in Mark. |
| Lk 20:24 | He said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription has it?" They said, "Caesar's." | Parallel account in Luke. |
| Rom 13:1-7 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... render to all what is owed them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. | Christians' duty to government. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-17 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme... Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. | Subjection to authorities, God above all. |
| Tit 3:1 | Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work... | Christians' civic duty. |
| Gen 1:26-27 | Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"... So God created man in his own image... | The ultimate 'image' belongs to God. |
| Col 1:15 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. | Christ as the image of God. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image... | Believers renewed in God's image. |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein... | God's supreme ownership. |
| Ps 50:10-12 | For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills... For the world and its fullness are mine. | God's universal dominion. |
| Acts 4:19-20 | But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." | Priority of God's command over human. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise... | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Rom 1:22-23 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man... | Warnings against idolatry (false images). |
| Isa 40:18 | To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness will you compare to him? | God's incomparability and uniqueness. |
| Prov 1:20-22 | Wisdom cries aloud in the street... "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing...?" | Wisdom displayed by Jesus. |
| Matt 16:1 | And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. | Attempting to trap Jesus. |
| Deut 17:15 | You may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses... | God's authority in establishing earthly rule. |
| Ecc 8:2-5 | I advise you to keep the king's command... Obey the king's command, because of your oath to God. Do not be eager to leave his service... | Submission to human authority. |
| Matt 12:25 | Every kingdom divided against itself will fall, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. | Harmony between divine and civic duties. |
| Hos 13:11 | I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath. | God's ultimate control over kings. |
Matthew 22 verses
Matthew 22 20 Meaning
Matthew 22:20 is Jesus' pivotal question to the Pharisees and Herodians, who sought to trap Him regarding the legitimacy of paying taxes to Caesar. By presenting the coin, Jesus directs their attention to the tangible evidence of Roman authority and currency in circulation, forcing them to acknowledge Caesar's rule. His query about whose "image" and "superscription" were on the coin lays the groundwork for His profound declaration on dual allegiance to earthly powers and divine authority.
Matthew 22 20 Context
Matthew 22 begins with a parable of the wedding feast, emphasizing rejection and inclusion in the kingdom of heaven. Following this, the verse in question is part of a series of entrapment attempts by different groups: the Pharisees and Herodians (22:15-22), the Sadducees (22:23-33), and a lawyer (22:34-40). The Pharisees, deeply nationalistic and opposed to Roman rule, conspired with the Herodians, who were pro-Rome (supporters of Herod and Roman occupation), to corner Jesus on the volatile issue of taxation. If Jesus said 'yes' to paying the tax, He would lose popular support as a Messiah. If He said 'no,' He could be accused of rebellion against Rome. Jesus' demand to "show me the coin" and then His counter-question regarding the coin's "image" and "superscription" sets up His ingenious response that upholds both civic duty and ultimate allegiance to God, disarming their political trap.
Matthew 22 20 Word analysis
And: A conjunction linking this moment to the preceding cunning attempt to trap Jesus.
He: Refers to Jesus, highlighting His initiative and immediate counter-action.
said: Simple declarative, indicating Jesus' direct engagement.
to them: Refers to the delegation of Pharisees and Herodians (Matt 22:16).
"Whose: Interrogative pronoun, initiating a direct query about ownership or attribution.
is: Verb, indicating present state or identity.
this: Demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to the specific coin Jesus asked for and received.
image: (Greek: eikōn, εἰκὼν) Signifies a likeness, representation, or resemblance. On the coin, it referred to the emperor's portrait, which often held religious and political significance, reflecting the ruler's perceived divinity or supreme authority. The use of this word is key as it directly links to humanity bearing God's eikōn (Gen 1:26-27), setting up Jesus' deeper meaning about who we truly belong to. It implied ownership by the one whose image was present.
and: Conjunction, connecting the image to the inscription, as both typically appeared together on Roman coins.
superscription?: (Greek: epigraphē, ἐπιγραφή) Means an inscription, writing, or title inscribed on something, particularly on the face or edge of a coin. This refers to the legend or text surrounding the emperor's portrait, detailing his name, titles (e.g., "Tiberius Caesar, Son of Divine Augustus, Pontifex Maximus"), and sometimes an indication of his power or accomplishments. These inscriptions reinforced the emperor's authority and sometimes divine status.
"Whose is this image and superscription?": This group of words shifts the burden of proof back to the questioners. By making them identify the Emperor (Caesar), they implicitly acknowledge Roman authority over their monetary system. The question forces them to state that Caesar's authority is accepted through their use of his currency, trapping them by their own practical realities. It also primes them for the subsequent theological statement about rendering to God what belongs to Him. This challenge transcends simple coin identification, pointing to the underlying claims of allegiance associated with the coin's user.
Matthew 22 20 Bonus section
The coin referred to was likely a silver denarius, the standard Roman coin used for tribute, featuring the head of Emperor Tiberius and inscriptions that often proclaimed him "Son of the Divine Augustus" and "High Priest." This was blasphemous to Jewish sensibilities. The very act of asking for the coin implied that the Pharisees and Herodians, despite their purported piety, carried and used currency bearing such idolatrous images. This revealed their hypocrisy and practical acceptance of the Roman system. Jesus' response validated civic responsibility, like paying taxes, within the broader framework of a supreme responsibility to God. It separated spiritual and civil authority, emphasizing that the kingdom of God is not advanced by overthrowing earthly powers but by fulfilling one's obligations while prioritizing divine worship.
Matthew 22 20 Commentary
Matthew 22:20 is the critical set-up for Jesus' famous pronouncement, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matt 22:21). By asking "Whose is this image and superscription?" while holding the denarius, Jesus masterfully flips the trap on His interrogators. The coin, an ordinary object of commerce, was imbued with profound symbolic weight due to the emperor's effigy and imperial titles. Jesus compels His questioners to verbally affirm Caesar's ownership over that coin and its value system. This acknowledges a pragmatic reality of governance and currency without endorsing Roman idolatry or illegitimate authority over divine matters. The image on the coin indicated possession, thereby logically connecting that which bore Caesar's image and inscription as belonging to Caesar, whereas humans, bearing the image of God, belong to God. Jesus thereby established distinct, yet co-existing, spheres of allegiance, preventing political sedition while reaffirming ultimate divine sovereignty.