15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 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. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)
Here we see that the Pharisees and the Herodians came to test the Lord Jesus, asking him: “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” The Herodians were a Jewish sect, supporters of King Herod, the king of Judah. At that time, the Jews were under the rule of Rome, and Caesar was the emperor of Rome. Here the Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus in his words. If the Lord Jesus said not to pay taxes to Caesar, they would accuse him of inciting rebellion. The Lord Jesus is the Son of God, and he knows everything. He knew that they came to tempt him, so he answered: “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” That is, pay tax what is due to Caesar, and offer to God what is due to God.
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(Luke 23:1-2)
Here we see that later the Lord Jesus was arrested by them and brought before Pilate, they falsely accused him of forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar. The Lord Jesus did not do so, but they still falsely accused him. If he had done so, it would have been even worse. They did not believe that he was the Christ and the King, and this became the reason for their accusation.
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:7)
Here the Apostle Paul said that we should pay taxes if we own tax, we should be law-abiding people.
I hope more people will believe in the Lord Jesus and accept him as the Lord and Savior of their lives.
May God bless you and your family!
