SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:21
Ellos le dicen: De Csar. Y les dijo: Pagad pues a Csar lo que es de Csar, y a Dios lo que es de Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 22:21
Verse 21. They say unto him, Caesars.] The image was the head of the emperor; the superscription, his titles. JULIUS CAESAR was the first who caused his image to be struck on the Roman coin. Tiberius was emperor at this time. Render therefore unto Caesar] The conclusion is drawn from their own premises. You acknowledge this to be Caesar's coin; this coin is current, in your land; the currency of this coin shows the country to be under the Roman government; and your acknowledgment that it is Caesar's proves you have submitted. Don't therefore be unjust; but render to Caesar the things which you acknowledge to be his; at the same time, be not impious, but render unto God the thing's which belong to God.
This answer is full of consummate wisdom. It establishes the limits, regulates the rights, and distinguishes the jurisdiction of the two empires of heaven and earth. The image of princes stamped on their coin denotes that temporal things belong all to their government. The image of God stamped on the soul denotes that all its faculties and powers belong to the Most High, and should be employed in his service.
But while the earth is agitated and distracted with the question of political rights and wrongs, the reader will naturally ask, What does a man owe to Caesar?-to the civil government under which he lives? Our Lord has answered the question-That which IS Caesar's. But what is it that is Caesar's? 1. Honour. 2. Obedience. And 3. Tribute. 1. The civil government under which a man lives, and by which he is protected, demands his honour and reverence. 2. The laws which are made for the suppression of evil doers, and the maintenance of good order, which are calculated to promote the benefit of the whole, and the comfort of the individual should be religiously obeyed. 3. The government that charges itself with the support and defense of the whole, should have its unavoidable expenses, however great, repaid by the people, in whose behalf they are incurred; therefore we should pay tribute. But remember, if Caesar should intrude into the things of God, coin a new creed, or broach a new Gospel, and affect to rule the conscience, while he rules the state, in these things Caesar is not to be obeyed; he is taking the things of God, and he must not get them. Give not therefore God's things to Caesar, and give not Caesar's things to God. That which belongs to the commonwealth should, on no account whatever, be devoted to religious uses; and let no man think he has pleased God, by giving that to charitable or sacred uses which he has purloined from the state. The tribute of half a shekel, which the law, (Exod. xxx. 13,14) required every person above twenty years of age to pay to the temple, was, after the destruction of the temple, in the time of Vespasian, paid into the emperor's exchequer. This sum, Melanethon supposes, amounted annually to THREE TONS OF GOLD.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. They say unto him, Caesars , etc.] Either Augustus Caesars; for there was a coin of that emperors, as Dr. Hammond reports, from Occo, which had his image or picture on it, and in it these words written, Augustus Caesar, such a year, after the taking of Judaea; which if this was the coin, was a standing testimony of the subjection of the Jews to the Romans; and this being current with them, was an acknowledgment of it by them, and carried in it an argument of their obligation to pay tribute to them; or it might be Tiberius Caesars, the then reigning emperor, in the nineteenth year of whose reign, Christ was crucified; and seeing he had reigned so long, it is reasonable to suppose, his money was very common, and most in use: we read in the Talmud f1179 , of hnarsyq arnyd , a Caesarean penny, or Caesars penny, the same sort with this: now this penny having Caesars image and inscription on it, our Lord tacitly suggests, that they ought to pay tribute to him; since his money was allowed of as current among them, which was in effect owning him to be their king; and which perfectly agrees with a rule of their own, which runs thus f1180 : A king whose coin is current in any country, the inhabitants of that country agree about him, and it is their joint opinion, ydb[ wl hw hynwda awh that he is their Lord, and they are his servants.
This being the case now with the Jews, Christs advice is, render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesars, and unto God, the things that are Gods : give Caesar the tribute and custom, and fear, and honour, and obedience, which are due to him; which may be done without interfering with the honour of God, and prejudicing his interest and glory, when care is taken, that all the worship and obedience due to God are given to him: subjection to civil magistrates is not inconsistent with the reverence and fear of God; all are to have their dues rendered unto them, without entrenching upon one another. And the Jews themselves allow, that a king ought to have his dues, whether he be a king of Israel, or of the Gentiles: a publican, or tax gatherer, (they say f1181 ,) that is appointed by the king, whether a king of Israel, or of the Gentiles, and takes what is fixed by the order of the government; it is forbidden to refuse payment of the tax to him, for anyd twklmd anyd , the right of a king is right.
Just and equitable, and he ought to have his right.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-22 - The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party amon the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Thoug opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Chris saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lor Jesus sees through it. Christ did not interpose as a judge in matter of this nature, for his kingdom is not of this world, but he enjoin peaceable subjection to the powers that be. His adversaries wer reproved, and his disciples were taught that the Christian religion i no enemy to civil government. Christ is, and will be, the wonder, no only of his friends, but of his enemies. They admire his wisdom, but will not be guided by it; his power, but will not submit to it.
Greek Textus Receptus
λεγουσιν 3004 5719 V-PAI-3P αυτω 846 P-DSM καισαρος 2541 N-GSM τοτε 5119 ADV λεγει 3004 5719 V-PAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM αποδοτε 591 5628 V-2AAM-2P ουν 3767 CONJ τα 3588 T-APN καισαρος 2541 N-GSM καισαρι 2541 N-DSM και 2532 CONJ τα 3588 T-APN του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM τω 3588 T-DSM θεω 2316 N-DSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
22:21 {Render} (apodote). "Give back" to Caesar what is already Caesar's.
