Matthew 22:21

Matthew 22:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They say unto him, Cesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
• New International Version (NIV)“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
• New King James Version (NKJV)They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Context of Matthew 22:21

19Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. 20And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22And hearing this, they were amazed; and they left Him and went away. 23On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him,

Matthew 22:21 word by word

λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Καίσαρος.¶ Τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ.Read the interlinear

• They saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to Him, “Caesar’sΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• payἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• and to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Matthew 22:21

• Matthew 17:25He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”
• Proverbs 24:21My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not get involved with those of high rank,
• Luke 23:2And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, “We found this Man misleading our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
• Romans 13:7Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
• Matthew 22:37And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
• Matthew 4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
• Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter.
• Daniel 6:10Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously.
• Malachi 1:6“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
• Malachi 3:8“Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
• Acts 4:19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment;
• Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
• 1 Peter 2:13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

Commentaries on Matthew 22:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21They say unto him, Caesars - The image was the head of the emperor; the superscription, his titles. Julius Caesar was the first who caused his image to be struck on the Roman coin. Tiberius was emperor at this time. Render therefore unto Caesar - The conclusion is drawn from their own premises. You acknowledge this to be Caesar's coin; this coin is current, in your land; the currency of this coin shows the country to be under the Roman government; and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 The Pharisees and Herodians endeavor to entangle Jesus - This narrative is also found in Mark 12:12-17; Luke 20:20-26. Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. How they might entangle him - To entangle means to “ensnare,” as birds are taken by a net. This is done secretly, by leading them within the compass of the net and then suddenly springing it over them. So to entangle is artfully to lay a plan for enticing…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party among the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Though opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Christ saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lord Jesus sees through it. Christ did…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Jesus answered with wisdom. He said people should give Caesar the honor that belongs to him, but they must give God the greater honor and loyalty. Being loyal to God does not always mean being disloyal to human rulers. Jesus showed that there are two realms of authority, Caesar’s and God’s, and God’s authority is greater (Acts 4:19).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 22:21

• Citizens
• Commandments
• Duty
• Government
• Jesus, the Christ
• King
• Law
• Money
• Penny
• Pharisees
• Tribute (Taxes)

In the dictionaries

• God
• Abundance
• Commandment
• Darkness
• Dinner
• Entangle
• Friend
• Guest
• Image
• Love

Commentaries on Matthew 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings