Pentecost Season · Proper 24 · Year A
Matthew 22:15-22
Paying Taxes to Caesar
October 18, 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).
From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.
Take it further
Commentary
Commentary on Matthew 22:15-22 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A Gospel by a named seminary scholar.
Matthew 22 - The Question About Taxes Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the trap about taxes and Jesus' answer about the coin.
Matthew 22:15-22 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the image on the coin and what belongs to God.
Matthew 22:15 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the question about the tax to Caesar.
Matthew 22:15 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further preaching voice.
Matthew 22 Commentary Precept Austin
An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.
Background & Word Study
Matthew 22 (Matthew Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools
Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading.
Matthew 22:15 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including the word for image.
Enter the Bible: Matthew Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Matthew for the setting of the temple controversies.
Gospel of Matthew Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Matthew that frames the confrontations in Jerusalem.
The Church Fathers
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.
Prep at sermons.com
Ready to write?
- Full sermons on Matthew 22:15-22
- Illustrations cleared for use in worship
- Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Trusted by pastors since 1995.
Free every Tuesday
Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox
The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.