Luke 20:24
Luke 20:24 in Multiple Translations
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar’s.
Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Cæsar’s.
Let me see a penny. Whose image and name are on it? And they said, Caesar's.
“Show me a coin—a denarius. Whose image and inscription is on it?” “Caesar's,” they answered.
Shew me a penie. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered, and sayd, Cesars.
shew me a denary; of whom hath it an image and superscription?' and they answering said, 'Of Caesar:'
Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”
Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar's.
Shew me a penny. Whose image and inscription hath it? They answering, said to him, Caesar’s.
“Show me a Roman coin. Then tell me whose picture is on it. And tell me whose name is on it.” They showed him a coin and said, “It has the picture and name of Caesar, the head of the Roman government.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Luke 20:24
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Luke 20:24 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Luke 20:24
Study Notes — Luke 20:24
Context — Paying Taxes to Caesar
24“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
25So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 26And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 18:28 | But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ |
| 2 | Acts 11:28 | One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.) |
| 3 | Acts 26:32 | And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.” |
| 4 | Luke 20:22 | Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” |
| 5 | Matthew 20:2 | He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. |
| 6 | Luke 23:2 | And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.” |
| 7 | Luke 3:1 | In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, |
| 8 | Luke 2:1 | Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. |
| 9 | Acts 25:8–12 | Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?” Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” |
| 10 | Philippians 4:22 | All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar. |
Luke 20:24 Summary
In this verse, Jesus is teaching us about loyalty and priorities. He asks to see a denarius, a common coin, and asks whose image is on it. The answer, 'Caesar's', shows that the coin belongs to Caesar. Jesus is saying that we should give to each authority what belongs to them, just like we would give the coin back to Caesar. This means we should honor the government and leaders God has placed over us, as instructed in Romans 13:1-7, while also giving our hearts and lives to God, as He is the one who made us in His own image, as stated in Genesis 1:26-27.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jesus trying to accomplish by asking to see a denarius?
Jesus was trying to reveal the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and expose their attempt to trap Him, as seen in Luke 20:23, by using a common object to teach a spiritual lesson, similar to how He used everyday examples in the parables found in the Gospel of Luke, such as Luke 15:11-32.
Why did Jesus ask whose image and inscription were on the denarius?
Jesus asked this question to point out that the denarius, with Caesar's image and inscription, belonged to Caesar, just as everything with God's image and inscription, including humans, belong to God, as stated in Genesis 1:26-27 and Psalm 24:1.
How does this verse relate to our lives as Christians?
This verse reminds us that, as Christians, we have a responsibility to honor the authorities God has placed over us, as instructed in Romans 13:1-7, while also giving our ultimate allegiance to God, as Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37-38.
What can we learn from the Pharisees' response to Jesus' question?
The Pharisees' answer, 'Caesar's', reveals their willingness to acknowledge the authority of Caesar, but their reluctance to submit to God's authority, as seen in their rejection of Jesus, serves as a warning to us to examine our own priorities and loyalties, as encouraged in 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be trying to serve two masters, like the Pharisees, and how can I surrender them to God?
- How can I, like Jesus, use everyday objects and situations to teach spiritual lessons to those around me?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my allegiance to God, while still honoring the authorities He has placed over me?
- What are some inscriptions or images that I may be allowing to define my identity, rather than my identity in Christ, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17?
- How can I apply the principle of giving to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's in my daily life, as instructed in Luke 20:25?
Gill's Exposition on Luke 20:24
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 20:24
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 20:24
Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 20:24
Cambridge Bible on Luke 20:24
Sermons on Luke 20:24
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Evidence of Early Jewish Writings by F.F Bruce | F.F. Bruce delves into the Rabbinical Writings and Josephus' historical accounts to shed light on the context and references to Jesus in Jewish literature. The Pharisees, led by Yo |
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I Have Appeared Unto Thee - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the conversion of the apostle Paul on the Damascus road. He emphasizes that Paul's encounter with Jesus was a life-changing experience that |
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Are You a Christian? by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a grocer in a small village who hears his son's voice calling to him from the basement. The son wants to come to his father, but is |
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The Law Leads Us to Christ by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker discusses two parables from the book of Matthew. The first parable is about a king who invites people to his son's wedding feast, but they refuse to com |
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Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate John 18:28-19:16 by David Servant | David Servant delves into the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion, highlighting Pilate's struggle to find Jesus guilty of a crime punishable by death, despite knowing the chief pr |
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Fire - Prayer Meeting (Cd Quality) by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker describes a powerful and impactful premiere event. They mention a white-haired lady who was sitting in a wheelchair and didn't know anyone's names, but |
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The Baptism of Fire by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for a spiritual awakening and revival. He encourages the congregation to desire this revival with all their heart, soul, mind, and |





