Matthew 22:19 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 22:19 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.”

And Jesus said to them: whose likeness and inscription is this? They said: Caesar's. Then he said to them. The image-and-inscription question forces the acknowledgment that the coin belongs to Caesar — in the sense that it bears his image and name. The Genesis logic underlies the response: what bears someone's image belongs to that person.

Church Fathers on Matthew 22:19

As when one seeks to dam a stream of running water, as soon as one outlet is stopped up it makes another channel for itself; so the malevolence of the Jews, foiled on one hand, seeks itself out another course.
Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

Who as unknown to Him, were more likely to ensnare Him, and so through them they might take Him, which they feared to do of themselves because of the populace.
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ord.

Lately under Caesar Aug ustus, Judaea, which was subject to the Romans, had been made tributary when the census was held of the whole world; and there was a great division among the people, some saying that tribute ought to be paid to the Romans in return for the security and quiet which their arms maintained for all. The Pharisees on the other hand, self- satisfied in their own righteousness, contended that the people of God who paid tithes and gave first-fruits, and did all…
Jerome · 4th century

Read all 21 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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