Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
you hypocrites - He saw through their flattery immediately.
denarius - a Roman coin worth about 16 cents (according to Walvoord)
"Thus Christ recognized two divinely constituted spheres of authority. In the one sphere God is supreme. In the other Caesar has delegated authority. Christ’s statement anticipated Paul’s teaching that all civil authorities are constituted by God. As such they are God’s minsters to maintain law and order and to provide an atmosphere in which righteous men may live in peace. Consequently they are to be supported by the payment of taxes (Romans 13:1-7). Christ recognized the authority given to Caesar as God’s servant, and therefore He confirmed that Caesar must be supported by the payment of taxes. This teaching did not conflict with God’s right to rule, and the payment of taxes to Caesar did not nullify the fact that ultimately God will appoint His Son as Ruler in Caesar’s place. Thus Christ recognized Caesar’s right, but He did not deny that Israel’s hope to be ruled by their Messiah will eventually be realized." (Pentecost)
disciples - followers of the Pharisees. The Pharisees probably figured Jesus knew them and would be on His guard, so they sent others to flatter and trap Him.
Herodians - Those who supported the rule of the Herods, and, therefore, Rome. They were normally opposed by the Pharisees because of their disregard of religion.
Herodians - Those who supported the rule of the Herods, and, therefore, Rome. They were normally opposed by the Pharisees because of their disregard of religion.
"A Jewish party who favored the Herodian dynasty, the party of 'peace at any price' and appeasement of Rome." (Ryrie)
Their question (v.17) was a trap. If Jesus said "yes," they could accuse Him of being a traitor to Israel. If He said “no,” they could denounce Him to the Roman authorities.
"By simply asking for a penny, He left them under the yoke which they were obliged to confess they had themselves adopted; and by inviting them to render to Him as God, the things that were God's, He offered to release them from that yoke, as also from the greater yoke of their sins." (Williams)
lawful - Is it against Jewish law?
"The tax they were referring to was the poll tax, a small tax levied on women aged twelve to sixty-five and men aged fourteen to sixty-five. it was a relatively small tax, as the Romans also exacted a ten-percent tax on grain and a twenty-percent tax on wine and fruit, as well as other taxes for road and bridge improvements. The Pharisees had chosen the least of the taxes, but to pay it was to recognize Roman oppression, which was most unpopular with the Jews." (Walvoord)
Their question (v.17) was a trap. If Jesus said "yes," they could accuse Him of being a traitor to Israel. If He said “no,” they could denounce Him to the Roman authorities.
"By simply asking for a penny, He left them under the yoke which they were obliged to confess they had themselves adopted; and by inviting them to render to Him as God, the things that were God's, He offered to release them from that yoke, as also from the greater yoke of their sins." (Williams)
lawful - Is it against Jewish law?
"The tax they were referring to was the poll tax, a small tax levied on women aged twelve to sixty-five and men aged fourteen to sixty-five. it was a relatively small tax, as the Romans also exacted a ten-percent tax on grain and a twenty-percent tax on wine and fruit, as well as other taxes for road and bridge improvements. The Pharisees had chosen the least of the taxes, but to pay it was to recognize Roman oppression, which was most unpopular with the Jews." (Walvoord)
"The poll-tax was imposed by Rome on every Jew. The burning question in the minds of many Jews of that day was simple this: If God gave the land of Israel to the Hebrews, and if God meant them to live there, and if He received their sacrifices and offerings in acknowledgement of His relationship to them, how could they pay tribute to any other power, king, god, or person? If Christ said they should pay, they could then charge Him with disloyalty to Judaism; if He said no, they could denounce Him to the Romans." (Ryrie)
you hypocrites - He saw through their flattery immediately.
denarius - a Roman coin worth about 16 cents (according to Walvoord)
"Thus Christ recognized two divinely constituted spheres of authority. In the one sphere God is supreme. In the other Caesar has delegated authority. Christ’s statement anticipated Paul’s teaching that all civil authorities are constituted by God. As such they are God’s minsters to maintain law and order and to provide an atmosphere in which righteous men may live in peace. Consequently they are to be supported by the payment of taxes (Romans 13:1-7). Christ recognized the authority given to Caesar as God’s servant, and therefore He confirmed that Caesar must be supported by the payment of taxes. This teaching did not conflict with God’s right to rule, and the payment of taxes to Caesar did not nullify the fact that ultimately God will appoint His Son as Ruler in Caesar’s place. Thus Christ recognized Caesar’s right, but He did not deny that Israel’s hope to be ruled by their Messiah will eventually be realized." (Pentecost)
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