The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

Coin2

Caesar's Coin

"Pontif Maxim" (The Great Pontiff "high priest")

The Bible says that the Temple leaders sent spies to trap Jesus into speaking against the Romans.

Luke 20:22-26

22 "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me?

24 "Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's."

25 And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

Jews hated paying Roman taxes, especially since it had to be done with a coin bearing Caesar's "divine" image and inscription. To possess a Roman coin was to admit a Roman obligation. Therefore, when the spies produced Caesar's coin from their purse, they answered their own question.