Trinity/After Pentecost
The Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
Trinity 23 · November 8, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
In response to Jesus’ three provocative parables, various groups of Jewish leaders initiate confrontations with Jesus (see 22:15, 23, 34). These revolve around Torah adherence and how to live out faithful allegiance to Yahweh, similar to earlier disputes with Jewish leaders in Matthew (e.g., 12:1–14; 15:1–20). As in Jesus’ earlier teachings, love is shown to be central to proper interpretation of the law (22:34–40; see 5:43–48; 19:19). This series of encounters culminates in a final riddle by Jesus regarding his identity and authority, which silences all his opponents (22:41–46) and leads into a series of judgments on the Jewish leaders (chap. 23).
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Commentary
Matthew 22:15–22 (Gospel) Working Preacher
Weekly exegesis of the Gospel by a named seminary scholar.
Exodus 33:12–23 (Old Testament) Working Preacher
Moses asks to see God’s glory.
1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 (Epistle) Working Preacher
Paul’s thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith.
Coin Flip: SALT's Lectionary Commentary SALT Project
Treats the tax question as a trap Jesus flips, redirecting to what we owe God as image-bearers.
Matthew 22:15–22 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Plays on 'give/pay' and image-bearing to ask what we render back to God.
Commentary on the Gospel: Tribute to Caesar Opus Dei
A Roman Catholic reading of how Jesus dissolves the trap and orders what is owed to Caesar versus to God.
Background & Word Study
Questions preachers ask
What does “render to Caesar” mean?
The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus over the imperial tax. He asks whose image is on the coin, and answers that what bears Caesar’s image goes to Caesar, and what bears God’s image, human life itself, goes to God (Matthew 22:15–22). It is less a tidy split of church and state than a claim that God’s claim is total.
Where does this fall in the lectionary?
Proper 24 (Ordinary 29) in Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary, the Sunday whose date falls between October 16 and 22.
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