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Chapter 66—Christ Confounds His Enemies
This chapter is based on
Matthew 22:15-46
;
Mark 12:13-40
;
Luke
20:20-47
.
The priests and rulers could not refute Christ’s charges. But
they were only the more determined to entrap Him. They sent spies,
“who pretended to be sincere, that they might take hold of what He
said, so as to deliver Him up to the authority and jurisdiction of
the governor.” RSV. These young men, ardent and zealous, were
accompanied by Herodians who were to hear Christ’s words, that
they might testify against Him at His trial.
The Pharisees had ever chafed under the exaction of tribute by
the Romans, holding that it was contrary to the law of God. Now the
spies came to Jesus as though desiring to know their duty: “Master,
we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest
Thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: is it
lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?”
Those who put the question to Jesus thought they had disguised
their purpose, but Jesus read their hearts as an open book. “Why
tempt ye Me?” He said, showing that He read their hidden purpose.
They were still more confused when He added, “Show me a penny.”
They brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image and superscrip-
tion hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.” Pointing to the
coin, Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are
Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
The spies felt baffled and defeated. The summary manner in
which their question had been settled left them nothing further to say.
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Christ’s reply was no evasion, but a candid answer to the question.
Holding in His hand the Roman coin, He declared that since they
were living under the protection of the Roman power, they should
render to that power the support it claimed. But, while peaceably
subject to the laws of the land, they should at all times give their first
allegiance to God.
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