Question about Paying Taxes to Caesar
Matthew 22:15-22
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Matt.22.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τοτε: ADV
- πορευθεντες: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Φαρισαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- συμβουλιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ελαβον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οπως: CONJ
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- παγιδευσωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 12:13 (verbal): Near-identical Synoptic parallel: Pharisees (with Herodians) sent to entangle Jesus in his words; same plot-to-trap motif and similar wording.
- Luke 20:20 (verbal): Synoptic parallel recounting opponents watching Jesus and sending agents to catch him in his speech—same pericope in Luke's Gospel.
- Luke 11:53-54 (thematic): Earlier Lucan scene where scribes and Pharisees lay traps to catch Jesus in what he says; same tactic of setting verbal snares.
- John 11:47-53 (thematic): Council of chief priests and Pharisees plotting against Jesus (including proposal to kill him); parallels the conspiratorial intent of the leaders to neutralize Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the Pharisees went and conferred together how they might entangle him in his words.
- Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his words.
Matt.22.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αποστελλουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Ηρωδιανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- λεγοντες·Διδασκαλε: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m + NOUN,voc,sg,m
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- αληθης: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ει: COND
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αληθεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- διδασκεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART
- μελει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- περι: PREP
- ουδενος: PRON,gen,sg,3
- ου: PART
- γαρ: CONJ
- βλεπεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- εις: PREP
- προσωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ανθρωπων·: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 12:13-14 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel narrative: Pharisees and Herodians sent to trap Jesus with flattery, including the claim that he is truthful, teaches God's way, and is not partial to people.
- Luke 20:20-21 (verbal): Parallel account: spies pretend sincerity to entrap Jesus and address him as a teacher who speaks and teaches rightly and does not show partiality.
- Matthew 22:15 (structural): Immediate literary context: the preceding verse sets up the sending of the disciples and Herodians — the same episode of attempted entrapment.
- Romans 2:11 (thematic): Thematic parallel on impartiality: 'For God shows no partiality' echoes the claim that Jesus 'does not look at the person of men,' linking truth/justice with lack of favoritism.
Alternative generated candidates
- They sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and teach the way of God in truth, and show no partiality; you do not regard persons.
- They sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are sincere and teach the way of God in truth, and that you do not care for anyone's opinion; for you do not regard the person of men.'
Matt.22.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- τι: ADV
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- δοκει·εξεστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- δουναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- κηνσον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Καισαρι: PROPN,dat,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ου: PART
Parallels
- Mark 12:14 (verbal): Parallel Synoptic account of the same question about paying tribute to Caesar; records the same exchange that elicits Jesus' famous reply.
- Luke 20:22 (verbal): Luke's parallel wording of the question ('Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?') and the subsequent context leading to Jesus' answer.
- Matt.22:21 (structural): Immediate continuation in Matthew containing Jesus' reply ('Render therefore to Caesar...'), directly resolving the question posed in 22:17.
- Romans 13:6-7 (thematic): Paulic teaching that Christians should pay taxes and render to governing authorities what is due them—theological reflection on obligations to secular authority.
- Matt.17:24-27 (thematic): Earlier Matthean episode about the temple tax (Jesus arranging payment from a fish's coin) addressing a related issue of when and how Jesus' followers pay taxes or exemptions.
Alternative generated candidates
- Tell us, therefore, what you think: is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?"
- 'Tell us, therefore: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?'
Matt.22.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γνους: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πονηριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- ειπεν·Τι: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- πειραζετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- υποκριται: NOUN,voc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 12:15 (quotation): Parallel account of the same episode; Mark likewise says Jesus perceived their craftiness and asks, 'Why do you test me?' before producing a denarius.
- Luke 20:23 (quotation): Synoptic parallel—Luke records Jesus perceiving their craftiness and challenging them with 'Why do you test me?,' matching Matthew's wording and context.
- Matthew 23:13 (thematic): Jesus directly accuses the religious leaders of being 'hypocrites' in a sustained denunciation of Pharisaic hypocrisy—same rebuke term used in 22:18.
- John 2:24-25 (thematic): The Johannine account similarly emphasizes Jesus' insight into human hearts ('he knew what was in man'), paralleling Matthew's 'knowing their wickedness'.
- Matthew 9:4 (verbal): Another Matthean instance where Jesus perceives inner malice and challenges it—'Why think ye evil in your hearts?'—comparable to 22:18's exposure of intent.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Jesus, perceiving their malice, said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
- But Jesus, knowing their malice, said, 'Why do you put me to the test, you hypocrites?'
Matt.22.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- επιδειξατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- νομισμα: NOUN,acc,sg,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κηνσου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- προσηνεγκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- δηναριον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Mark 12:15 (verbal): Verbal and narrative parallel: Mark recounts the same episode where Jesus asks to see the coin and they bring a denarius.
- Luke 20:24 (verbal): Verbal parallel in Luke’s account of the same question about the coin for the census/tax; closely matches Matthew’s wording and sequence.
- Matthew 22:21 (structural): Immediate literary continuation in Matthew: Jesus’ famous reply ('Give to Caesar...') directly answers the coin question introduced in 22:19.
- Matthew 17:24-27 (thematic): Related tax/coin episode (temple tax) where Jesus deals with payment and a specific coin (stater), connecting the themes of civic/temple obligations and coinage.
- Romans 13:7 (thematic): Theological parallel on obligations to governing authorities (including taxes), reflecting the broader ethical-teaching context invoked by the coin-and-tax incident.
Alternative generated candidates
- Show me the coin used for the tax." They brought him a denarius.
- 'Show me the coin used for the tax.' And they brought him a denarius.
Matt.22.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Τινος: PRON,dat,pl + PRON,gen,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εικων: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- επιγραφη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 12:16 (verbal): Parallel synoptic wording: Jesus asks whose image and inscription are on the coin (Τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν ταύτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή;), nearly identical to Matthew's phrasing.
- Luke 20:24 (verbal): Synoptic parallel with virtually the same question about the coin's likeness and inscription, leading to the same conclusion about paying tribute.
- Matthew 22:21 (structural): Immediate literary continuation and resolution of Matt. 22:20: Jesus' famous dictum to 'render to Caesar...' answers the coin question by distinguishing obligations to Caesar and to God.
- John 19:19 (verbal): Uses the same term for 'inscription' (ἐπιγραφή): Pilate's inscription on the cross highlights the motif of writing/inscription that identifies authority and claim, resonating with the coin's inscription indicating imperial authority.
- Romans 13:6-7 (thematic): Theologically related teaching about paying taxes and obligations to governing authorities echoes the ethical/practical implications of Jesus' question and reply regarding civic duty.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's."
- He said to them, 'Whose likeness and inscription is this?'
Matt.22.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω·Καισαρος: PRON,dat,sg,3
- τοτε: ADV
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Αποδοτε: PRON,dat,pl,3
- ουν: CONJ
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- Καισαρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Καισαρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 12:17 (quotation): Direct synoptic parallel: Jesus' identical reply about rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (same occasion and wording).
- Luke 20:25 (quotation): Another synoptic parallel giving the same saying in Luke's account; identical formulation and context of the Pharisees' trap question.
- Romans 13:7 (thematic): Paul's teaching on civic obligations—'pay to all what is owed' including taxes and respect—echoes the principle of fulfilling duties to earthly authorities.
- Psalm 24:1 (thematic): Affirms God's ownership of earth and its fullness ('The earth is the Lord's'), supporting the idea that ultimately some obligations belong to God rather than to human rulers.
- Acts 5:29 (thematic): Points to the priority of divine authority ('We must obey God rather than men') and illuminates how obligations to human rulers are limited when they conflict with duties to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
- They said to him, 'Caesar's.' Then he said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'
Matt.22.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ακουσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εθαυμασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- αφεντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- απηλθαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Mark 12:17 (verbal): Near‑identical wording and context (the question about paying taxes): Mark records the same reaction—’they marveled, and leaving him they went away.’
- Luke 20:26 (verbal): Luke’s parallel to the tax question uses essentially the same phrase and reports the same outcome: the challengers marvel and depart.
- Matt.21:46 (thematic): Similar theme of Jesus’ opponents being unable to trap or seize him after his authoritative teaching—leaders react with amazement/fear and desist.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away.
- When they heard it they marveled; and they left him and went away.
Then the Pharisees went away and took counsel how they might entangle him in his words.
They sent to him their disciples, together with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you speak truly and teach the way of God in truth, and that you show no partiality to people.
Tell us therefore: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius.
He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's."
He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's,"
"and to God the things that are God's." When they saw it they marveled; and leaving him they went away.