1 of 6

2 of 6

Is it right to pay the poll-tax to Caesar?

Matthew 22:15-22

63BC Romans took control

  • Set up semi-independent kings

​

6AD Judas of Galilee

  • Started revolt against Roman taxation

​

Matt 2 Herod the ‘Great’

  • Orders massacre at Bethlehem; dies

​

Matt 14 Herod Antipas

  • Ruler during Jesus’ ministry; kills John the Baptist

3 of 6

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.

​

Matt 22:15-16

4 of 6

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the poll-tax to Caesar or not?’

​

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’

Matt 22:17-20

5 of 6

“Give back

to Caesar

what is

Caesar’s…

…and to

God what

is God’s.”

6 of 6

He asked them, ‘Whose image is this?’

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness”