20:25a

So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces what Jesus wanted the people to learn from his question and the answer. It is Jesus’ conclusion to the discussion. Some other ways to introduce this conclusion in English are:

Therefore
-or-
On that basis
-or-
Because of that
-or-
If that is so

You should use a natural way in your language to introduce a conclusion like this.

Jesus told them: This clause introduces Jesus’ response to the spies. The response is his conclusion based on what they have said.

20:25b

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s: The clause Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s means that people should give to the Roman emperor what rightfully belongs to the emperor. This command implies that the Jews should obey the Roman law and pay the Roman tax. Some other ways to translate the command are:

pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor (Good News Translation)
-or-
give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s (NET Bible)

20:25c

and to God what is God’s: In this clause the verb “give” is implied, as in 20:25c. In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit. For example:

and ⌊give⌋ to God what is God’s

The statement means that people should give to God what belongs to him. Just as Caesar’s government made coins with Caesar’s image, so God put his own image on people when he created them. This indicates that each person’s whole life belongs to God.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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