The Coin and the Image

Wisdom Under Pressure · Matthew 22

Story guide: A carefully designed political trap cannot divide what Jesus keeps distinct: civic obligations remain, but God’s claim reaches the whole person.

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15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might trap him in his words.

16And they send to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care about anyone, for you do not look at the face of men.”

17Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay the poll tax to Caesar, or not?

18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites?”

19Show me the coin for the tax. And they brought him a denarius.

20And he said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”

21They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

22And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving him, they went away.

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