15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might
entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying,
“Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do
You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to
pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why
do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and
inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render
therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that
are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled,
and left Him and went their way.
Vs. 18-22 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Now with their question the Lord Jesus Christ immediately perceived their wickedness, and so with a stroke of brilliance He will now answer their question by means of the very tax money that was collected from them. Therefore, having been asked about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar the Lord Jesus Christ now says to them, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Therefore, by stating as much the Lord Jesus Christ both confirms the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar (and thus for us all to pay whatever taxes and customs that are imposed on us, see Romans 13:1-7, vs. 6-7). But also, in doing so we are also to render to God the things that are God’s, something which both the Pharisees and Herodians were failing to do in not receiving and honoring and obeying His Son! There is then no moral conflict in our paying taxes to ruling governments, just as there is an obligation on us all to render to God the honor and glory that His Person and Name is due, whether financial or otherwise.
Commentary
Vs.
15
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might
entangle Him in His talk.”
Having heard the Lord Jesus Christ’s parables
spoken against them the Pharisees now go and plot how they might entangle Jesus
in His talk. In this they will recruit the Herodians; that is those Jewish
followers of Herod, who were loyal to him and his rule over the Jews, something
which the Pharisees were strongly opposed too, and yet they will find common
ground with the Herodians in their desires to kill Him (see Mark 3:6). And so,
having failed to find a religious fault with the Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching
by which they could condemn Him to death, they will now seek a political one,
thus their temporary allegiance with the Herodians here.
Vs.
16-17
16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the
Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of
God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of
men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to
pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Therefore, the Pharisees now send their
disciples with the Herodians to the Lord Jesus Christ to try to trip Him up
with a question on the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar or not. And so,
having instructed their disciples on what to ask the Lord Jesus Christ they
themselves will now wait in the shadows; behind the scenes as it were, where
they are orchestrating this entrapment of Him, waiting for their return with
His response so that they could either condemn Him to Herod and the Roman
ruling authorities, or else totally discredit Him to the Jews and all the
people who were listening to Him. Now the approach of the Pharisees disciples
and the Herodians to the Lord Jesus is to first say to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way
of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person
of men.17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to
pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Now their stating as much to the Lord Jesus Christ is
nothing but hypocritical flattery. For if they truly believed that Jesus was
true and was teaching the way of God in truth; that He did not regard the
person of men, as they themselves did (and all those who are power hungry do,
or want wealth and privileges from the same) why then did they not repent and
believe Him. Therefore, their words here to Him (and specifically their loaded
question) only reveal the levels of cunning that they will steep too in order
to try to entrap Him. Now as to their question is it lawful to pay taxes to
Caesar is not an honest inquiry, but is again a loaded question (for though
they themselves and their masters would’ve paid taxes to Caesar) their goal
here is to get the Lord Jesus Christ to incriminate Himself. For if He says no
it is not (and thus respects the desires of the Jews who wanted nothing to do
with Roman rule and law over them, then the Herodians would have just grounds
to condemn Him to Herod and the Romans). However, if He says that yes, then all
the Jews nationalistic pride could be aroused by the Pharisees who would then
say that the Lord Jesus Christ is not for the nation of Israel, but only for
the Romans and Herod. Therefore, the question is not about the lawfulness of
paying taxes to Caesar, which they and everyone did, and which would have been
lawful for them to do, since God had placed the Romans to rule over them, and
so though they did not like it, they all paid taxes to Caesar through the tax
collectors that were recruited from amongst them. And so, their question is
only about trying to entangle the Lord in His speech. And thus, bring a
condemning charge against Him, either before Herod and Romans or the people.
Vs. 18-22 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Now with their question the Lord Jesus Christ immediately perceived their wickedness, and so with a stroke of brilliance He will now answer their question by means of the very tax money that was collected from them. Therefore, having been asked about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar the Lord Jesus Christ now says to them, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Therefore, by stating as much the Lord Jesus Christ both confirms the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar (and thus for us all to pay whatever taxes and customs that are imposed on us, see Romans 13:1-7, vs. 6-7). But also, in doing so we are also to render to God the things that are God’s, something which both the Pharisees and Herodians were failing to do in not receiving and honoring and obeying His Son! There is then no moral conflict in our paying taxes to ruling governments, just as there is an obligation on us all to render to God the honor and glory that His Person and Name is due, whether financial or otherwise.
Scripture Quotations:
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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