Luke 20:25

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Render {G591} therefore {G5106} unto Caesar {G2541} the things which be {G3588} Caesar's {G2541}, and {G2532} unto God {G2316} the things which be {G3588} God's {G2316}.

“Then,” he said to them, “give the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor. And give God what belongs to God!”

So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

And he said unto them, Then render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.

Commentary

The Gospel of Luke presents one of Jesus' most profound and often-quoted statements, addressing the delicate balance between earthly and divine obligations. In Luke 20:25, Jesus articulates a principle that continues to guide believers on civic and spiritual duties.

Context

This profound statement came in response to a cunning trap question posed by religious leaders (Pharisees and scribes, often allied with Herodians on political matters), who sought to discredit Jesus regarding the legality of paying tribute to the Roman Emperor (Luke 20:22). They hoped to force Him into a position where He would either defy Roman authority (making Him an enemy of Rome) or endorse it (making Him unpopular with the Jewish populace who resented Roman occupation). Jesus, recognizing their hypocrisy, asked for a denarius, a Roman coin bearing Caesar's image and inscription, and then delivered this timeless reply.

Key Themes

  • Dual Allegiance: Jesus establishes a clear distinction between obligations owed to earthly rulers and those owed to God. It acknowledges the legitimacy of civil government while firmly asserting the supremacy of divine authority.
  • Divine Sovereignty: By asking "whose image and superscription hath it?" (referring to the coin), Jesus subtly shifts the focus from Caesar's image on the coin to God's image on humanity. This implies that while the coin belongs to Caesar, human beings, made in God's image, belong ultimately to God.
  • Wisdom of Jesus: This response brilliantly evades the trap, satisfying neither the Roman authorities nor the Jewish zealots, yet providing a profound spiritual truth. It demonstrates Jesus' unparalleled wisdom and ability to turn a challenging question into a teaching moment.

Linguistic Insights

The word "render" comes from the Greek verb apodidomi (ἀποδίδωμι), which means "to give back," "to pay back," or "to restore what is due." It carries the connotation of fulfilling an obligation or debt. This suggests that taxes paid to Caesar are not merely a concession but a proper fulfillment of a civic duty for services rendered by the state, such as maintaining order and infrastructure. However, the far greater "rendering" is due to God, implying that our ultimate allegiance, our very being, is His.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 20:25 provides foundational guidance on navigating civic responsibilities alongside spiritual devotion. It encourages Christians to be responsible citizens, paying taxes and honoring and obeying legitimate governing authorities, as long as those duties do not contradict God's higher law. Ultimately, our lives, our worship, and our deepest loyalty belong to God, as we are created in His image. This verse calls us to a balanced perspective, recognizing both our earthly citizenship and our heavenly identity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 13:6

    For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

  • Romans 13:7

    ¶ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

  • Acts 4:19

    But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

  • Acts 4:20

    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

  • Proverbs 24:21

    ¶ My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:

  • Mark 12:17

    And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

  • Matthew 17:27

    Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
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