32
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
great confidence in his teachings. After plying him with flattery as to
his straightforward course, irrespective of the favor or frowns of men,
they, with an assumed candor, asked as if for information, “Is it lawful
to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”
But their wicked device was plain to the Saviour, and turning upon
them he answered them, “Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show
me the tribute money.” Thrown off their guard by the unexpected
manner in which Jesus met their advances, and which plainly showed
that he was not deceived for a moment by their specious flattery, his
questioners immediately brought him a coin bearing the image and
superscription of the Roman ruler. “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 which are
Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
The wily spies felt themselves baffled and defeated. The summary
way in which their question had been settled left nothing farther for
them to say. Their plans were all disarranged. They had expected
Jesus to answer their question directly in one way or the other. If
he should say, It is unlawful to give tribute unto Caesar, there were
[43]
those present whose task it was to immediately bear the report to the
Roman authorities, and have Jesus arrested at once as one who was
creating rebellion among the Jews. This they hoped would insure his
condemnation. But in case he should say, It is lawful to give tribute
unto Caesar, they designed to call the attention of the Jewish people to
his decision, and accuse him as one opposed to the divine law.
Jesus read their motives, and, holding in his hand the Roman coin,
upon which was stamped the name and image of Caesar, declared that,
as they were living under the protection of the Roman power, they
should render to that power the support it claimed, so long as it did
not conflict with their duty to God. But that they should at all times
render obedience to God, answering his claims, yet peaceably subject
to the laws of the land. His interrogators, unprepared for this response
of Jesus, “marveled and left him, and went their way.” Although the
wrath of the priests and rulers knew no bounds, and they longed to
seize Jesus and slay him with their own hands to avenge themselves
for the mortification he had caused them, yet they dared not attack
him before the crowd. With a masterly effort they maintained a fair
exterior while they went about laying plans to destroy him.