Matthew 22:21

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. For the exposition, see the notes at Mark 12:13....

21._Render therefore to Caesar those things which are Caesar’s. _Christ reminds them that, as the subjection of their nation was attested by the coin, there ought to be no debate on that subject; as if he had said, _“If _you think it strange to pay _tribute, _be not subjects of the Roman Empire. But the money (which men employ as the pledge of mutual exchanges) attests that _Caesar _rules over you; so that, by your own silent consent, the liberty to which you lay claim is lost and gone.” Christ’s reply does not leave the matter open, but contains full instruction on the question which had been proposed. It lays down a clear distinction between spiritual and civil government, in order to inform us that outward subjection does not prevent us from having within us a conscience free in the sight of God. For Christ intended to refute the error of those who did not think that they would be the...

15-22 The Pharisees sent their disciples with the Herodians, a party among the Jews, who were for full subjection to the Roman emperor. Though opposed to each other, they joined against Christ. What they said of Christ was right; whether they knew it or not, blessed be God we know it. Jesus Christ was a faithful Teacher, and a bold reprover. Christ saw their wickedness. Whatever mask the hypocrite puts on, our Lord Jesus sees through it. Christ did not interpose as a judge in matters of this nature, for his kingdom is not of this world, but he enjoins peaceable subjection to the powers that be. His adversaries were reproved, and his disciples were taught that the Christian religion is no enemy to civil government. Christ is, and will be, the wonder, not only of his friends, but of his enemies. They admire his wisdom, but will not be guided by it; his power, but will not submit to it....

Verse Matthew 22:21. _THEY SAY UNTO HIM, CAESARS._] The image was the _head_ _of the emperor_; the _superscription_, his _titles_. JULIUS CAESAR was the _first_ who caused his image to be struck on the Roman coin. _Tiberius_ was emperor at this time. _RENDER THEREFORE UNTO CAESAR_] The conclusion is drawn from their own premises. You acknowledge this to be _Caesar's_ coin; this coin is _current_, in your land; the currency of this coin shows the country to be _under_ the Roman government; and your acknowledgment that it is Caesar's proves you have _submitted_. Don't therefore be _unjust_; but render to Caesar the things which you acknowledge to be his; at the same time, be not _impious_, but render unto God the thing's which belong to God. This answer is full of consummate wi

THE PHARISEES AND HERODIANS ENDEAVOR TO ENTANGLE JESUS - This narrative is also found in Mark 12:12; Luke 20:20. Matthew 22:15 THEN WENT THE PHARISEES - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. HOW THEY MIGHT ENTANGLE HIM - To entangle means to “ensnare,” as birds are taken by a net. This is done secretly, by leading them within the compass of the net and then suddenly springing it over them. So to entangle is artfully to lay a plan for enticing; to beguile by proposing a question, and by leading, if possible, to an incautious ans

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 22:1 _Parable of the marriage of the king_'_s son. _(Peculiar to St. Matthew.) MATTHEW 22:1 JESUS ANSWERED AND SPAKE UNTO THEM. After they had heard our Lord's words at the end of the last chapter, the Pharisees, according to St. Mark, "left him, and went their way," so that this parable was spoken in the audience of the disciples and the attendant multitude alone, without the former disturbing element. This fact may account for its exhibiting certain merciful and gracious features, setting forth the privilege rather than the duty of obeying the gospel call. The term "answered" often does not signify a reply given to some distinct question, but is equivalent to "took occas

THEY SAY UNTO HIM, CAESAR'S,.... Either Augustus Caesar's; for there was a coin of that emperor's, as Dr. Hammond reports, from Occo, which had his image or picture on it, and in it these words written, Augustus Caesar, such a year, "after the taking of Judaea"; which if this was the coin, was a standing testimony of the subjection of the Jews to the Romans; and this being current with them, was an acknowledgment of it by them, and carried in it an argument of their obligation to pay tribute to them; or it might be Tiberius Caesar's, the then reigning emperor, in the nineteenth year of whose reign, Christ was crucified; and seeing he had reigned so long, it is reasonable to suppose, his money was very common, and most in use: we read in the Talmud s, of דינרא קיסראנה, "a Caesarean penny", or "Caesar's penny", the same sort with this: now this penny having Caesar's image and inscription o...

10. THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. The King's Answers and His Question. CHAPTER 22 _ 1. The Parable of the Marriage Feast. (Matthew 22:1 .) 2. The Herodians Answered. (Matthew 22:15 .) 3. The Sadducees Answered.(Matthew 22:23 .) 4. The Pharisees Answered.(Matthew 22:34 .) 5. The Unanswered Question.(Matthew 22:41 .)_ A third parable follows immediately. They would have laid their hands upon Him, after that searching second parable had been uttered by the Lord, but His hour was not yet. Once more He f

THE QUESTION OF TRIBUTE (Mark 12:13 *, Luke 20:20). Note how Mt. (Matthew 22:15) changes Mk.'s indefinite subject into the Pharisees, and so has to change Mk.'s object the Pharisees into their disciples. Lk.'s expansions are interesting. Jesus points out that to pay tribute to Rome was not merely lawful, it was a moral obligation in return for the beneficent experiences of a stable government, it was not a gift (Matthew 22:17) but the rendering (Matthew 22:21) of a debt, and did not compete or clash with men's obligations to God. Mt. rounds off the i

JOY AND JUDGMENT (Matthew 22:1-10)...