Book of Matthew - Chapter 22 - Verse 20

When Jesus asked the question, "Whose is this image and superscription?" he was referring to the Roman denarius that was presented to him. The denarius was a silver coin that had the image of the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar along with an inscription declaring him as the son of the divine Augustus. This question was a clever way for Jesus to challenge the Pharisees and Herodians who were trying to trap him with their questions. By asking them whose image and inscription were on the coin, Jesus was forcing them to acknowledge the authority and power of the Roman emperor, despite their allegiance to God. This interaction ultimately revealed the hypocrisy of those who claimed to be loyal to God but were willing to use Roman currency with the emperor's image on it. It was a powerful lesson on the importance of giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and giving to God what belongs to God.

When Jesus asked the Pharisees and Herodians whose image and inscription was on a coin, he was making a profound theological statement that challenged the prevailing religious and political authorities of the time. By drawing attention to the coin's image, Jesus highlighted the tension between the demands of earthly rulers and the ultimate authority of God. In Jewish tradition, images and inscriptions were viewed as symbols of idolatry and blasphemy, as they represented human power and authority in place of God's sovereignty. Through this question, Jesus was challenging his listeners to consider where their allegiance truly lay - with the powers of this world or with the kingdom of God. This theological interpretation of the verse invites readers to reflect on what it means to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, ultimately pointing to the need for a deeper commitment to God's kingdom over the fleeting powers of this world.