“Jesus said to them.
‘Show me a denarius!
Whose head
And whose title
Does it bear?’
They said.
‘The Emperor Caesar’s.’”
εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς
Δείξατέ μοι δηνάριον· τίνος ἔχει εἰκόνα καὶ ἐπιγραφήν; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν Καίσαρος.
Luke indicated that Jesus said to them (εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς) to show him a denarius (Δείξατέ μοι δηνάριον), which was a Roman coin. He asked them whose image or head and title or inscription did it have (τίνος ἔχει εἰκόνα καὶ ἐπιγραφήν)? They said it was the Emperor Caesar’s head and title (οἱ δὲ εἶπαν Καίσαρος). There was something similar in Matthew, chapter 22:19-21, and in Mark, chapter 12:15-16, almost word for word. Mark said that Jesus wanted to see the coin that was used for paying the Roman poll tax. Thus, they brought Jesus one of these small silver Roman coins, a denarius. (φέρετέ μοι δηνάριον). Jesus then asked them (καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς) whose image and whose inscription title (Τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν αὕτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή) were on this coin? They answered him (οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ) that the image and inscription belonged to the Emperor Caesar (Καίσαρος). Matthew indicated that Jesus wanted to see the coin that was used for paying the poll tax (ἐπιδείξατέ μοι τὸ νόμισμα τοῦ κήνσου). They brought or presented him with a small silver Roman coin, a denarius (οἱ δὲ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δηνάριον). He then asked them (καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς) whose image and whose inscription title (Τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν αὕτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή) were on this coin? They answered (λέγουσιν) that the image and inscription belonged to Emperor Caesar (Καίσαρος). This was a simple question with a simple answer. Jesus wanted them to bring him the Roman coin, a denarius, worth a little more than a US dollar. He wanted to see what coin was being used for paying the Roman poll tax. What kind of money do you use?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 