Bible Strands
Luke 20:25
So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the religious leaders and Herodians who have just produced a denarius and identified Caesar’s image and inscription, responding directly to their attempt to trap Him in public.
The words — The imperative ἀπόδοτε (apodote) means “do give back,” applied to τὰ (ta), “the things,” establishing a direct command to render what belongs to each authority.
The thread — The text’s command to render to governing powers aligns with Romans 13:6, while its dual reverence for God and earthly rulers parallels Proverbs 24:21.
Why it lands — The passage demands a clear distinction between civic obligation and divine allegiance, requiring the reader to fulfill both without merging their jurisdictions.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which be Cesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Cross-references
- Romans 13:6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
- Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
- Matthew 17:27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
- Matthew 22:21 “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- Mark 12:17 Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
- Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
- Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
- 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.