Matthew 22:15-22
Give civil authorities what is due, but give God the life that bears His image.
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.
17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
20 He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
21 They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.
Give civil authorities what is due, but give God the life that bears his image.
Matthew presents Jesus as the authoritative Son who exposes hostile testing and teaches that earthly obligations must remain subordinate to God's ultimate claim over every person.
Jerusalem during the final week before the crucifixion, after Jesus has entered the city, cleansed the temple, and publicly confronted the chief priests and elders.
The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord
The King’s Son must be received on the King’s terms: hypocritical traps, theological ignorance, shallow law-keeping, and reduced messianic categories all collapse before Jesus, who summons people to the banquet, to resurrection hope, to wholehearted love, and to worship the Messiah who is David’s Lord.