Luke 20:24

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

Translations

Modern
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
Traditional
Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar’s.
Literal
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they said, “Caesar’s.”
Latin
…ostendite mihi denarium. Cujus habet imaginem et inscriptionem? Respondentes dixerunt ei: Cæsaris.

Original

Greek
English
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.

Notes

a denarius: This Roman coin had the image and inscription of the emperor Tiberius Caesar (see 3:1) stamped on it.

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 Penny

Topics

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