Paying Taxes to Caesar
Luke 20:20-26
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Luke.20.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- παρατηρησαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- απεστειλαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εγκαθετους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- υποκρινομενους: VERB,pres,mid,part,acc,pl,m
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- δικαιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ινα: CONJ
- επιλαβωνται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,pl
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- λογου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ωστε: CONJ
- παραδουναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αρχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ηγεμονος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 22:15 (verbal): Same episode and similar wording: Pharisees send men to entangle Jesus in his speech (sent spies/hypocrites) in order to trap him in his words.
- Mark 12:13 (verbal): Parallel account of opponents (Pharisees and Herodians) sent to catch Jesus in his words—same intent to entrap and implicate him before authorities.
- Luke 11:53-54 (thematic): Earlier Lucan passage describing scribes and Pharisees seeking to catch Jesus in speech; shares the theme of entrapment by hostile religious leaders.
- Matthew 27:2 (structural): Later narrative fulfillment in which Jesus is handed over to Pilate the governor—connects with Luke 20:20's intention to deliver him to the governing authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- They watched him and sent out spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might catch him in something he said, and deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.
- They watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might catch him in something he might say, to deliver him to the governor's authority and jurisdiction.
Luke.20.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- επηρωτησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- λεγοντες·Διδασκαλε: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ορθως: ADV
- λεγεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- διδασκεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- λαμβανεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- προσωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αλλ᾽επ᾽αληθειας: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,gen,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- διδασκεις·: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 22:16 (verbal): Nearly identical episode and wording: opponents praise Jesus as 'true' who 'teaches the way of God' and 'accepts no man's person' while seeking to trap him (verbal and situational parallel).
- Mark 12:14 (verbal): Mark's parallel account uses similar language praising Jesus' integrity and impartiality as the questioners attempt to ensnare him (close verbal and narrative parallel).
- Acts 10:34 (thematic): Peter's declaration 'God shows no partiality' echoes the claim here that Jesus 'does not take persons'—both affirm divine impartiality as a central theological principle.
- Romans 2:11 (thematic): Paul's theological statement 'For God shows no partiality' parallels Luke's emphasis that Jesus teaches the true way of God without favoritism.
Alternative generated candidates
- So they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and that you do not show partiality; for you do not regard the person of men.”
- So they questioned him, saying, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and that you accept no person's appearance but show the way of God in truth: is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"
Luke.20.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εξεστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- Καισαρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- φορον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- δουναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
Parallels
- Matthew 22:17 (verbal): The Pharisees ask the same question to Jesus ('Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?'); the wording and intent closely parallel Luke 20:22.
- Mark 12:14 (verbal): Mark records the identical challenge posed to Jesus by the Pharisees (and Herodians), paralleling Luke's account of the tax question.
- Luke 20:25 (quotation): Jesus' reply in Luke ('Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's…') is the immediate resolution of the question posed in 20:22 and corresponds to the parallel replies in Matthew and Mark.
- Matthew 22:21 (quotation): Matthew preserves Jesus' famous response ('Render therefore unto Caesar…'), the direct answer to the question asked in Luke 20:22 and Mark 12:14.
- Romans 13:6-7 (thematic): Paul's instruction to remit taxes and submit to governing authorities thematically engages the same issue of obligations to secular rulers raised by the question in Luke 20:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- “Is it lawful for us to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?”
- But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, "Why do you test me?
Luke.20.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κατανοησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πανουργιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 22:18 (verbal): Matthew uses almost identical language (κατανοησας τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν) — Jesus perceives their craftiness/malice before answering the tax question.
- Mark 12:15 (verbal): Mark records the same episode, noting Jesus sees their hypocrisy (εἶδὼς τὴν ὑποκρισιν αὐτῶν) and gives a counter-answer — a close verbal/allusive parallel.
- Matthew 22:15 (thematic): Contextual parallel: Pharisees plot to entrap Jesus with a question about paying taxes, setting up the same confrontation that Luke 20:23 resolves.
- Mark 12:13 (thematic): Parallel narrative detail: Pharisees and Herodians are sent to trap Jesus on the tax issue, providing the same situational background to Jesus’ remark about their craftiness.
Alternative generated candidates
- But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, “Why do you test me? Show me a denarius.”
- Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it bear?" They answered, "Caesar's."
Luke.20.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Δειξατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- δηναριον·τινος: NOUN,acc,sg,n+PRON,gen,sg
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εικονα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επιγραφην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αποκριθεντες: PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπαν·Καισαρος: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl+NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 22:19-21 (quotation): Matthew records the same coin-question and Jesus' reply ('Render to Caesar...'), closely paralleling Luke's wording and context.
- Mark 12:15-17 (quotation): Mark offers a near-verbatim account of the coin, image/inscription question, and Jesus' teaching about giving to Caesar and to God.
- Romans 13:7 (thematic): Paul's exhortation to 'give to everyone what you owe' including taxes echoes the obligation to pay secular authorities implied in Jesus' response to the coin question.
- Genesis 1:27 (thematic): The motif of 'image' (likeness) contrasts Caesar's image on the coin with humanity made in God's image, underpinning the theological basis for 'give to God the things that are God's.'
Alternative generated candidates
- They brought one to him. He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
- And he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Luke.20.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·Τοινυν: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αποδοτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- Καισαρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Καισαρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 22:21 (verbal): Parallel pericope with near-identical wording: Jesus' instruction to 'render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'
- Mark 12:17 (verbal): Synoptic parallel recording the same reply to the question about paying taxes, preserving the same contrast between earthly and divine obligations.
- Romans 13:7 (thematic): Paul's exhortation to 'render to all what is due them' (taxes, respect, honor) echoes the obligation to submit to human authorities while recognizing duties owed under God.
- John 19:11 (thematic): Jesus' statement that Pilate's authority was granted 'from above' ties into the theme of human rulers exercising authority under God's sovereignty, complementing the Luke saying's distinction between Caesar and God.
- Psalm 24:1 (allusion): The claim that 'to God [belongs] the things that are God's' resonates with the OT affirmation that 'The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,' grounding Jesus' contrast in God's ultimate ownership of creation.
Alternative generated candidates
- They answered, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
- They could not seize on his words before the people; and amazed at his answer, they were silent.
Luke.20.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ισχυσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- επιλαβεσθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ρηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εναντιον: PREP,gen
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λαου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- θαυμασαντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αποκρισει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εσιγησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 22:21-22 (verbal): Same incident (question about paying tribute to Caesar); Matthew records the crowd's amazement and the opponents' inability to answer in similar wording—they marvel and are silent/leave.
- Mark 12:15-17 (verbal): Parallel account of the tax question; Mark likewise reports that Jesus' reply silenced his opponents and that they marveled at him.
- Matthew 22:15-22 (structural): The wider pericope in Matthew contains the full trap-question narrative matching Luke 20:20–26; structurally the same episode showing Jesus' wisdom and the opponents' failure.
- John 8:6-9 (thematic): Different episode where Jesus' response exposes and silences accusers (the adulteress story); thematically parallels Luke 20:26 in that opponents are unable to trap Jesus and withdraw amazed or convicted.
Alternative generated candidates
- They could not seize on his words before the people; and amazed at his answer, they were silent.
- Afterwards they went away and held counsel with one another.
And they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the governor's authority and jurisdiction.
They questioned him, saying, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and that you show no partiality but truly teach the way of God.
Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, "Show me a denarius."
They brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They answered, "Caesar's."
He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they could not catch him in his words before the people; and they were amazed at his answer, and held their peace.