Luke 20:22

Paying Taxes to Caesar · Luke 20:19–26
Read Luke 20

Translations

Modern
Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Traditional
Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cesar, or no?
Literal
Is it lawful for us to give tax to Caesar or not?”
Latin
Licet nobis tributum dare Cæsari, an non?

Original

Greek
English
Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Notes

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?: If Jesus said yes, he would make the people angry, because they hated the burden of Roman taxation. If he said no, he would be accused of rebellion against the Roman authorities.

The religious leaders asked this question to trap Jesus, but he answered in a way that avoided their trap.

In this series of controversies between Jesus and the religious leaders of Jerusalem, they repeatedly questioned and challenged him, and he repeatedly outmatched them with his spiritual wisdom, insight, and authority.

Theme notes and profiles

The Stone the Builders Rejected

Events

Parallels

Matthew 22:15–22 Mark 12:13–17

People

Tiberius: Roman emperor during Jesus' ministry and death

Glossary

Luke, Gospel of Tax, Taxation

Topics

Caesar: Tiberius Citizens: Duties of Craftiness: Jews, in Seeking to Entangle the Master Jesus, the Christ: Tested by the Pharisees and the Herodians Law: General Scriptures Concerning