Matthew 22:21 kjv
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Matthew 22:21 nkjv
They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Matthew 22:21 niv
"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Matthew 22:21 esv
They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Matthew 22:21 nlt
"Caesar's," they replied. "Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."
Matthew 22 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:26-27 | Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him... | Humanity bears God's image, implying ownership and devotion. |
| Exod 13:14-16 | And it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us... | Remembering God's redemptive claim on His people. |
| Deut 10:12-13 | "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him..." | Total devotion and obedience owed to God. |
| 1 Sam 8:7-8 | And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me..." | The ultimate sovereignty and Kingship belong to God. |
| Psa 24:1 | The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. | God's universal ownership. |
| Prov 23:26 | My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. | God desires the core of one's being. |
| Isa 29:13 | Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths... Yet they remove their hearts far from Me..." | God values heartfelt devotion, not mere outward actions. |
| Mk 12:17 | And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." | Mark's parallel account, same powerful statement. |
| Lk 20:25 | And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." | Luke's parallel account, same principle. |
| Rom 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your... | Presenting one's whole self as devotion to God. |
| Rom 13:1-7 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by... | Christian duty to submit to legitimate governing authorities. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you... For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your... | Believers' bodies belong to God through redemption. |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. | All actions should ultimately glorify God. |
| 1 Pet 1:17-19 | And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay... | Redeemed by Christ's blood, therefore obligated to God. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-17 | Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake... for this is the will of God... Honor all people. Love the brotherhood... | General submission to human authority, fearing God above all. |
| Phil 3:20 | For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ... | Believers have a higher, heavenly citizenship. |
| Tit 3:1-2 | Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle... | Specific instruction on submitting to authorities and general conduct. |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth... all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before... | God's absolute creative ownership over all things. |
| Heb 13:15-16 | Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not... | Offering praise and good works as sacrifices to God. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings..." | God's claim on tithes and offerings from His people. |
| Josh 24:14-15 | "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." | Serving God wholeheartedly as a personal commitment. |
Matthew 22 verses
Matthew 22 21 Meaning
Matthew 22:21 encapsulates Jesus' profound teaching on the dual allegiance of believers: to earthly governing authorities and to God. It highlights that while there is a legitimate sphere for civic duty and honoring the state, there is an ultimate and comprehensive sphere where all life, created in God's image, belongs entirely to Him. This verse defines boundaries for responsibility, asserting that allegiance to God takes precedence and is more profound than any human authority, yet it acknowledges the necessity of obeying earthly laws that do not contradict divine commands.
Matthew 22 21 Context
Matthew 22:21 is embedded within a series of intense confrontational dialogues between Jesus and various religious factions in Jerusalem during His final week before the crucifixion. Chapter 22 begins with the parable of the wedding feast, warning the unrepentant. Immediately before this verse, the Pharisees, a leading religious group, colluded with the Herodians, a political party generally loyal to Herod and, by extension, Rome. Their aim was to entrap Jesus with a question that would force Him to alienate either the Roman authorities (if He forbade tribute to Caesar, a crime against Rome) or the Jewish populace (if He allowed it, seen as compromising theocratic principles). The denarius, a common Roman coin, bore the image and inscription of Caesar (Tiberius Caesar, Pontifex Maximus, High Priest). Carrying and using this coin symbolized acceptance of Roman rule, making the question profoundly political and religious. Jesus' answer brilliantly navigates this trap, demonstrating divine wisdom.
Matthew 22 21 Word analysis
- Then He said to them: Establishes Jesus' direct, authoritative response. This is not a hesitant or a flustered answer, but a deliberate and insightful one.
- "Render" (ἀπόδοτε - apodote): This Greek verb means "give back," "pay back," "restore," or "repay." It implies that what is due to Caesar is something that already belongs to him or is rightfully claimed by him, a legal and moral obligation to "return" or "fulfill" that which is owed, such as tax.
- therefore to Caesar (Καίσαρος - Kaisaros): Refers to the Roman Emperor, representing the governing secular authority or the state. The use of his effigy on the coin solidifies this connection to his power and claim.
- the things that are Caesar's: These refer primarily to the Roman imperial tribute or taxes, and by extension, civic obedience to the state's laws and functions. It acknowledges a legitimate sphere of authority for earthly governments.
- and to God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): This refers to the divine authority, the Creator, the ultimate sovereign, distinguishing a separate and supreme realm of allegiance.
- the things that are God's: This is the profound counter-balance. If the coin bears Caesar's image and thus belongs to him, then humans, created in God's image (Gen 1:26-27), fundamentally belong to God. Therefore, "the things that are God's" include not just religious rituals or offerings, but the totality of human life: one's heart, worship, obedience, will, body, and being—one's very self.
Words-group analysis:
- "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.": This statement functions as a balanced principle. It clarifies that two distinct realms of responsibility exist—one to the earthly state and one to God—and each has legitimate claims. However, it implicitly places God's claim as ultimate and superior. Civic duties are recognized as valid within their sphere, but they must never usurp or conflict with one's fundamental and total allegiance to God, who holds ultimate ownership of all things and especially of those made in His image.
Matthew 22 21 Bonus section
The Jewish religious leaders were scandalized by the coin not only because it was a foreign currency for Roman taxation but because its inscription often included imperial claims of divinity (e.g., Tiberius' title "Son of the Divine Augustus"), making it an idolatrous object in their view. By simply pointing to the coin's image and accepting its legitimacy for fiscal purposes, Jesus implicitly critiqued their hypocrisy: they were willing to use the "unclean" coin in their daily commerce yet would quibble over its tax implications. His answer cuts through the legalistic debate to a deeper spiritual truth. The question ultimately forces not just a monetary transaction but an assessment of the true master one serves. Is it Caesar, or is it God, whose image is eternally stamped upon the soul of humanity? This profound counter-question redefined the terms of loyalty from a superficial tax dispute to the core identity and ultimate devotion of every individual.
Matthew 22 21 Commentary
Jesus' reply in Matthew 22:21 is a stroke of divine genius, transforming a political trap into a timeless theological principle. By asking whose image was on the coin, Jesus highlighted the pervasive influence of Caesar's authority. The image and inscription signified Caesar's ownership and rule. If that piece of metal, bearing Caesar's likeness, belonged to him, then the people, bearing God's image, belonged fully to God.
This teaching reveals a fundamental principle for believers: acknowledging a rightful obligation to temporal governing authorities (paying taxes, obeying laws) while asserting a primary and comprehensive obligation to God. It establishes that while a Christian is a citizen of an earthly nation, they are fundamentally a citizen of God's Kingdom (Phil 3:20). Earthly allegiance is provisional and limited; divine allegiance is absolute and all-encompassing. The Christian lives in both realms, performing civic duties as an act of obedience to God (Rom 13:1-7), but recognizing that when Caesar's demands contradict God's commands, the higher authority (God) must be obeyed (Acts 5:29). This verse is not a call to separate faith entirely from public life, but a call to live all of life, including public and civic duties, under the ultimate Lordship of God. It compels one to consider what aspects of their life truly reflect God's image and therefore belong fully to Him.