May 31, 2026
Luke 20:20–26 ESV
So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
Discussion Questions:
Jesus continues to be tested by the religious leaders. We would like to look at the following incident from two perspectives. The first is to understand the details of what happened. And the second is to discuss the deeper spiritual lessons.
1) How was this a trap? How did Jesus disarm this trap?
2) What does this incident tell us about the interaction the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world? Is Jesus saying that they are both legitimate and just run in parallel with each other or is he somehow saying that one is superior to the other?
Discussion Summary:
This question was meant as a trap for Jesus. If he answered yes, he was recognizing Roman authority over God’s nation. If he answered no, he would be rebelling against Roman authority and law. This question of taxation was answered in the negative by Judas the Galilean who is referred to in Acts 5:37. According to Josephus he led a tax rebellion that was viciously put down by the Romans. Jesus answered this question by referring to God’s arrangement of allowing earthly rulers to exercise authority (Romans 13:1-3; John 19:11). This authority is only not recognized when it is in direct violation of God’s laws (Acts 4:19; 5:29).
This incident tells us that God’s Kingdom and the kingdom of this world run in parallel with each other, but they are not equal. The kingdom of this world which is ruled over by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) was not given to him by God. Instead we are to think of Satan as taking this kingdom, or usurping it. God allows this under what is called the “permission of evil.” Christians are to view themselves as “transported into the Kingdom” and as having “their citizenship in Heaven” (Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:13).
This incident also invites the Christian to ask themselves, “Who do I belong to?” Once we give ourselves to the Lord, we become his servants. As is recorded in Isaiah 44:5, “They will say, ‘I am the LORD’s…and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’S…” Are we rendering unto God’s what is God’s?
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