Matthew 22:17

Matthew 22:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not?
• New International Version (NIV)Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Context of Matthew 22:17

15Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 16They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? 19Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin,

Matthew 22:17 word by word

εἰπὲ οὖν ἡμῖν, τί σοι δοκεῖ; ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Tellλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thinkestδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• Is it lawfulἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
• to giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• tributeκῆνσοςkēnsos · taxG2778
• unto CesarΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
• orἤē · orG2228
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for Matthew 22:17

• Jeremiah 42:2Jeremiah the prophet. They said, “Please pray to the Lord your God for us. As you can see, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before.
• Acts 28:22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
• Deuteronomy 17:14“You are about to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, ‘We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.’
• Ezra 4:13And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.
• Ezra 7:24I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’
• Nehemiah 5:4And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes.
• Nehemiah 9:37The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”
• Acts 5:37After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.
• Romans 13:6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.
• Luke 2:1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
• John 19:12Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
• Acts 17:7And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
• Acts 25:8Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.

Commentaries on Matthew 22:17

• 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. 17Is it lawful … or not?: They asked the question to try and trap Jesus. If he said no, they could arrest him for rebelling against Rome. If he said yes, they could accuse him of supporting Roman oppression.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 22:17

• Citizens
• Craftiness
• Government
• Jesus, the Christ
• Pharisees
• Tribute (Taxes)

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Caesar
• Commandment
• Custom
• Darkness
• Dinner
• Entangle
• Friend
• Guest
• Image

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