But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
Spies sent by the priests, rulers and Pharisees came with flattering pretense and apparent sincerity to trap Jesus with the question about paying tribute to Caesar, but he read their hearts and was not deceived by their flattery. The trap was a dilemma meant to condemn him either way, for opposing the tax would expose him to the Romans as a rebel while approving it would expose him to the Jews as opposing God's law. By asking why they were testing him he directly confronted and rebuked their hypocrisy, craftiness and hidden purpose to ensnare him. His perception of their concealed intent gave evidence of his divinity. He answered not with evasion but with a wise, plain and intelligent reply that settled many minds, pointing to Caesar's image on the coin to teach that what belonged to Caesar should be rendered to him, a tribute he himself had paid.
The Crafty Test
The question about paying tribute to Caesar came from the priests and leaders and Pharisees sending spies who approached with flattering pretense and apparent sincerity in order to trap him. Their hidden purpose was concealed behind an apparently sincere inquiry, but it was recognized as craftiness meant to ensnare. The trap was a dilemma in which either answer would expose him to condemnation. If he opposed the tribute they could report him to the Roman authorities as a rebel and support a charge of sedition, and if he approved it they could accuse him before the Jews of opposing God's law, so that he would offend either Jewish law or Roman authority.
Those questioning him watched his words so they could repeat, twist and misinterpret them and thereby mislead the people. He perceived their craftiness, hypocrisy and concealed hidden purpose, reading their hearts behind the apparently sincere question. He was not deceived or misled by their flattery, for their apparent sincerity did not deceive him. By asking why they were tempting him, he directly confronted, exposed and rebuked their hypocrisy and presumption in trying to test, tempt and ensnare him. His confrontation showed their intent openly and left their attempt to trap him laid bare. His knowledge of their hidden intent gave evidence of his divinity.
The Wise Response
He met the test not with evasion but with a candid, wise, plain and intelligent answer. In that answer He laid bare the principle behind the question about tribute, so that many minds were settled. He called for the coin or tribute money and pointed to Caesar's image and inscription upon it, teaching that what belonged to Caesar should be rendered to him. He Himself had paid tribute and taught His disciples to do likewise.
His answer made clear that He was not teaching resistance to Roman rule, and the failure of the plot against Him took place before Romans who were present as witnesses. By answering in this way He brought precious light to the people and sowed seeds of truth among them. The illustrations and warnings about rejecting the Son of God that surround this encounter apply to people in every age, and unless they repent the doom foreshadowed by those warnings will be theirs.
Spies sent by the priests, rulers and Pharisees came with flattering pretense and apparent sincerity to trap Jesus with the question about paying tribute to Caesar, but he read their hearts and was not deceived by their flattery. The trap was a dilemma meant to condemn him either way, for opposing the tax would expose him to the Romans as a rebel while approving it would expose him to the Jews as opposing God's law. By asking why they were testing him he directly confronted and rebuked their hypocrisy, craftiness and hidden purpose to ensnare him. His perception of their concealed intent gave evidence of his divinity. He answered not with evasion but with a wise, plain and intelligent reply that settled many minds, pointing to Caesar's image on the coin to teach that what belonged to Caesar should be rendered to him, a tribute he himself had paid.
The Crafty Test
The question about paying tribute to Caesar came from the priests and leaders and Pharisees sending spies who approached with flattering pretense and apparent sincerity in order to trap him. Their hidden purpose was concealed behind an apparently sincere inquiry, but it was recognized as craftiness meant to ensnare. The trap was a dilemma in which either answer would expose him to condemnation. If he opposed the tribute they could report him to the Roman authorities as a rebel and support a charge of sedition, and if he approved it they could accuse him before the Jews of opposing God's law, so that he would offend either Jewish law or Roman authority.
Those questioning him watched his words so they could repeat, twist and misinterpret them and thereby mislead the people. He perceived their craftiness, hypocrisy and concealed hidden purpose, reading their hearts behind the apparently sincere question. He was not deceived or misled by their flattery, for their apparent sincerity did not deceive him. By asking why they were tempting him, he directly confronted, exposed and rebuked their hypocrisy and presumption in trying to test, tempt and ensnare him. His confrontation showed their intent openly and left their attempt to trap him laid bare. His knowledge of their hidden intent gave evidence of his divinity.
The Wise Response
He met the test not with evasion but with a candid, wise, plain and intelligent answer. In that answer He laid bare the principle behind the question about tribute, so that many minds were settled. He called for the coin or tribute money and pointed to Caesar's image and inscription upon it, teaching that what belonged to Caesar should be rendered to him. He Himself had paid tribute and taught His disciples to do likewise.
His answer made clear that He was not teaching resistance to Roman rule, and the failure of the plot against Him took place before Romans who were present as witnesses. By answering in this way He brought precious light to the people and sowed seeds of truth among them. The illustrations and warnings about rejecting the Son of God that surround this encounter apply to people in every age, and unless they repent the doom foreshadowed by those warnings will be theirs.