Font Size
Luke 20:20-22
New English Translation
Luke 20:20-22
New English Translation
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Then[a] they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere.[b] They wanted to take advantage of what he might say[c] so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction[d] of the governor. 21 Thus[e] they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly,[f] and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.[g] 22 Is it right[h] for us to pay the tribute tax[i] to Caesar[j] or not?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 20:20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
- Luke 20:20 tn Grk “righteous,” but in this context the point is their false sincerity.
- Luke 20:20 tn Grk “so that they might catch him in some word.”
- Luke 20:20 tn This word is often translated “authority” in other contexts, but here, in combination with ἀρχή (archē), it refers to the domain or sphere of the governor’s rule (L&N 37.36).
- Luke 20:21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “thus” to indicate the implied result of the plans by the spies.
- Luke 20:21 tn Or “precisely”; Grk “rightly.” Jesus teaches exactly, the straight and narrow.
- Luke 20:21 sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question was specifically designed to trap Jesus.
- Luke 20:22 tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.
- Luke 20:22 tn This was a “poll tax.” L&N 57.182 states this was “a payment made by the people of one nation to another, with the implication that this is a symbol of submission and dependence—‘tribute tax.’”
- Luke 20:22 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.