Matthew 22:18-22

Matthew 22:18-22. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, ( and craftiness, Luke,) in this their address, however pious and respectful it appeared; and said, Why tempt ye me? That is, Why do ye try me by such an insnaring question, and seek to draw me into danger by it? Ye hypocrites Making conscience and a pure regard to the divine will your pretence for asking the question, while your design is to bring about my destruction. Show me the tribute-money Which is demanded of you. It seems the Romans chose to receive this tribute in their own coin. And they brought unto him a penny A denarius, stamped with the head of Cesar. He saith, Whose is this image Which is struck upon the coin? They say unto him, Cesar’s Plainly acknowledging, by their having received his coin, that they were under his government. And indeed this is a standing rule. The current coin of every nation shows who is the supreme governor of it. Render therefore, ye Pharisees, to Cesar, the things which ye yourselves acknowledge to be Cesar’s: and, ye Herodians, while ye are zealous for Cesar, see that ye render to God the things that are God’s. When they had heard, &c., they marvelled and left him “So unexpected an answer, in which Jesus clearly confuted them on their own principles, and showed that the rights of God and the magistrate do not interfere in the least, (because magistrates are God’s deputies, and rule by his authority,) quite disconcerted and silenced those crafty enemies. They were astonished at his having perceived their design, as well as at the wisdom by which he avoided the snare, and went off inwardly vexed and not a little ashamed.” Macknight.