Luke 20:22

22 Is it allowable to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?"

Luke 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.

Luke 20:22 In-Context

20 So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority.

21 So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly.

22 Is it allowable to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?"

23 But He saw through their knavery and replied,

24 "Show me a shilling; whose likeness and inscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they said.