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Scripture • World English Bible
Matthew 22:15–33
15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16They 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.
17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
20He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
21They 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.”
22When they heard it, they marveled, and left him and went away.
23On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
26In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
27After them all, the woman died.
28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
33When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a political question, and the Sadducees try to trap him with a theological puzzle. Jesus refuses to be baited. He names their motive, calls out the hypocrisy, and then answers with clarity: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. That short sentence cuts through political theater and religious posturing because it locates ultimate allegiance.
Two things stand out. First, Jesus sees beyond the surface question to the heart behind it. Men who follow him must learn the same skill: don’t react to baited issues—discern the real question about loyalty and worship. Second, Jesus refuses to let religion serve as a cover for political games or to let politics eclipse worship. He teaches a kingdom posture: earthly duties have their place, but they do not replace devotion to God.
When Jesus answers the Sadducees about resurrection, he exposes their ignorance of Scripture and of God’s power. He points them to the living God—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are spoken of as living because God is the God of the living. Jesus reorients their imagination from dead legalisms to a living, powerful God who brings life.
For the man investigating faith or the man who has followed Christ for years, both challenges matter. You will face questions that try to trap you—about politics, money, sexual ethics, family, or identity. The right response is not cleverness for its own sake but faithful allegiance to the King. Know Scripture. See people. Keep your worship pure. Let the claim of God on your life shape how you use your money, how you answer provocations, and how you treat others. That is how you give God what belongs to God.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Set aside one hour this week to read Matthew 22:15–33 slowly, underline where Jesus exposes false questions, and journal one sentence about where you’re tempted to give Caesar what belongs to God.
- Choose one tangible thing you habitually give your time, attention, or money to (work, phone, hobby). For seven days, reduce it by 20% and use that time or money to serve or invest in your local church or a person in need.
- Ask a trusted brother to meet once this month for accountability about one area where you struggle to honor God (anger, lust, fear, money). Share one honest weakness and one concrete plan for change, and pray together.
Prayer
Father, help me see where I’ve given what belongs to you to lesser things. Give me courage to realign my loyalties, wisdom to act with integrity, and humility to learn from Jesus’ example. Teach me to honor you with my time, money, and relationships so my life points others to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Memory Verse
Matthew 22:21 — 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.” (WEB)
“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.””
Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 22
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Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 22
Matthew 22
World English Bible • WEB
1Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying,
2“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,
3and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
4Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!” ’
5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;
6and the rest grabbed his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
8“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy.
9Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’
10Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing,
12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’
14For many are called, but few chosen.”
15Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16They 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.
17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
20He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
21They 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.”
22When they heard it, they marveled, and left him and went away.
23On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
26In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
27After them all, the woman died.
28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
33When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
34But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together.
35One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him.
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”
37Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38This is the first and great commandment.
39A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
42saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.”
43He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,
44‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?
45“If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
46No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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