Matthew 22:17 (DRB)

Passage

Tell us therefore what dost thou think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees going, consulted among themselves how to insnare him in his speech.

Matthew 22:16 And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker and teachest the way of God in truth. Neither carest thou for any man: for thou dost not regard the person of men.

Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore what dost thou think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt me, ye hypocrites?

Matthew 22:19 Shew me the coin of the tribute. And they offered him a penny.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "tell", "therefore", "dost", "thou", "think", "lawful", "give", and "tribute". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "tell" and "therefore", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And they sent to him their disciples..." into verse 18's "But Jesus knowing their wickedness said Why...", so "tell" and "therefore" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "tell" and "therefore" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.