Bible Strands
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the questioners who brought Him a denarius, following His own inquiry about whose image and inscription appears on the coin. He addresses them directly to clarify the boundaries of their civic and religious duties.
The words — ἀπόδοτε (apodote) means "do give back" or "render," and Καίσαρος (Kaisaros) means "of Caesar." These terms establish the command to return what belongs to the ruling authority.
The thread — This instruction parallels Romans 13:7 on paying taxes and revenue to whom they are due, while Proverbs 24:21 reinforces the duty to fear both the LORD and the king.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to distinguish between earthly obligations and divine allegiance, demanding fulfillment of civic duties without allowing them to displace ultimate loyalty to God.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Romans 13:7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
- 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.
- Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
- Matthew 22:37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
- 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
- Daniel 6:20 When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
- Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”
- Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”