Matthew 22:19

19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. ^[a]

Matthew 22:19 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 22:19

Shew me the tribute money
Not any money, or any sort of coin that was current among them; but that in which the tribute was usually paid, which was Roman money: and they brought unto him a penny; not as, being what was the usual sum that was paid for tribute at one time, but as a sample of what sort of money it was paid in, in Roman pence; one of which was seven pence halfpenny of our money.

Matthew 22:19 In-Context

17 So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?

19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

20 “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Footnotes

• [a] A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.