Lukas 20:22

22 Is it mutar for us to pay tax to Caesar or not?

Lukas 20:22 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 20:22

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
] The Syriac and Persic versions here, as in the other evangelists, render it, "head money". The phrase, "for us", is here added, and on it lies the emphasis, and stress of the question; for the doubt pretended, was not whether it was lawful for the Romans to pay tribute to Caesar, but whether it was lawful for them who were Jews, were Abraham's seed, and, as they boasted, were never in bondage, but were the Lord's free people, to pay tribute to an Heathen emperor, or no.

Lukas 20:22 In-Context

20 And having watched carefully, they sent spies pretending themselves to be tzaddikim, that they might catch him in his dvar, so as to deliver him to the rulers and the manhigim under the Moshel (Governor).

21 And they set a she’elah (question) before him, saying, Rabbi, we have daas that you speak beemes in the shiurim you say and you show no deference toward anyone, but on the basis of HaEmes you give torah about HaDerech Hashem.

22 Is it mutar for us to pay tax to Caesar or not?

23 But having noticed the ORMAH (cunning, craftiness, BERESHIS 3:1) in their manner, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them,

24 Show me a denarius. Whose demut (likeness) has it? And whose inscription? And they said, Caesar’s.