---
title: Matthew 22:21
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/matthew-22-21/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/matthew-22-21.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Matthew 22:21
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Matthew 22:21

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> “Caesar’s,” they answered.  So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "Pay back, therefore, Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God."

## JW Usage

The Watchtower reads "pay back Caesar's things to Caesar" as authorisation for paying taxes and obeying laws that do not directly conflict with Jehovah's commands — but draws a sharp line at any positive civic engagement. JWs pay taxes but do not vote, serve on juries, run for office, salute flags, sing national anthems, or sign petitions. The verse is read as ruling out only direct disobedience to civil law, not as authorising broader civic participation.

## Protestant Usage

Jesus's principle cuts both ways. Caesar has a legitimate claim — taxes, civic order, honour due to authorities. The Watchtower accepts Caesar's claim on tax revenue but rejects Caesar's claim on jury service, voting, and civic participation, all of which Romans 13:1-7 (and Caesar's claim in the imperial structure Paul addressed) treats as part of the same package. Pair Matthew 22:21 with Romans 13:1 (NWT itself: authorities "placed in their relative positions by God" and "God's minister" in v. 4), Acts 25:11 (Paul appealing to Caesar to further the gospel), and 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (prayer for kings and those in authority "that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life"). The Watchtower has drawn a line through the middle of "render unto Caesar" — taxes yes, jury duty no — that the text itself does not draw.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [The Civic Cost of Cosmic Neutrality](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/cosmic-neutrality-civic-cost.md) — Jesus said 'my kingdom is not of this world' — not 'my followers must abandon the world' (John 18:36) [Practice]