Matthew 22:17 (KJV)

Passage

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Matthew 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "tell", "therefore", "thinkest", "thou", "lawful", "give", "tribute", and "caesar". 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 out unto him their..." into verse 18's "But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said...", 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.