Matthew 22:17 (LSB)

Passage

Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a tax to Caesar, or not?”

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel together about how they might trap Him in what He said.

Matthew 22:16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.

Matthew 22:17 Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a tax to Caesar, or not?”

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?

Matthew 22:19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And they sent their disciples to Him..." into verse 18's "But Jesus knowing their wickedness said Why...", so "therefore" and "tell" 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 "therefore" and "tell" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.