MATT. 22:15-2215Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. (Matthew 22:15‑22).
THE hatred of the Jews toward Jesus was so great that they were determined to find something against Him as a ground of accusation. So the Pharisees “took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.” Their wickedness was so great that they would adopt any course in order that they might find something against Jesus. So “they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou are true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not?” Here was a clever game that they had set out to play. The Herodians were those who favored the Roman power, and the Pharisees were those who were opposed to the Roman power. They thought that between these two classes they could catch Him. If He claimed to be the Messiah who was to come and deliver the Jews from the Romans, they thought He must condemn giving tribute to Caesar, and thus expose Himself to the suspicions of the authorities; or if He favored paying tribute to Caesar, then He must renounce His claims as the Messiah and deliverer of the people of God. Now all this was pure wickedness on the part of the Jews, and showed that they had no conscience at all. “But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” His answer confounded them. They wondered at it, and left Him. What did the piece of money show? The image and superscription were Caesar’s. This showed that they had accepted the authority of Caesar. And it was their own sins that had brought them under that authority. But they had accepted it, and were using Caesar’s money. Having accepted Caesar’s authority, they were bound to render what was due to Caesar. And Jesus told them to do so, and also to render unto God the things that are God’s, which they were not doing. Had they done so they would not have been under Caesar’s authority. But Jesus leaves them in the position they had taken as the result of their sins, and leaves upon their consciences the full weight of their responsibility, both to Ceasar and to God.
Thus we see the divine wisdom with which Jesus answered these adversaries.
Oh! what a dreadful thing to be found in the position of these Jews who used all their skill, without any conscience, in order to condemn Jesus, the Son of God. How much better to own our sins and go to Jesus to get deliverance from them.
ML 07/19/1903