15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 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. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:15–17 ESV)
Jesus did not just have opposition from the Jewish priests and scribes (Matt. 21:23), but also from the Pharisees and the Herodians. It is wise to review exactly who these people groups were.
The Pharisees were a conservative religious sect originating during the intertestamental period between the prophet Malachi and the beginning of the New Testament. The Pharisees were extremely influential among the common people of Israel. We have previously seen, in Matthew 15:1-9, the Pharisees equated human and oral traditions equal in authority to the Word of God.
In contrast, the Herodians were a political group rather than religious. They had affiliations with the Herod’s but also associated with the Sadducees. The Herodians were the aristocrats of Israel.
Both groups sought to entangle Jesus in what He said. To entangle (παγιδεύσωσιν; pagideusosin) means to entrap or to catch off guard. Therefore, the Pharisees sent their disciples, along with the Herodians, to use Jesus’ words against Him. They do so by asking Jesus a question.
“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?”
“What a strange combination: a. Pharisees, who were—or made believe that they were—very concerned about keeping God’s law, and b. partisans of the Herod family, who cared very little about the divine commandments. These two groups unite against Jesus,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
You have to wonder if they really believed their opening statement to the Lord or were simply flattering Him. If they understood Jesus was true and taught the way of God truthfully, then why would they want to entrap and kill Him? Ironically, they sought to destroy the Lord because He was true and spoke truth, while they were liars and followers of the devil (John 8). Nevertheless, they asked Jesus whether it was appropriate to pay taxes to Caesar; the Roman government.
“Pompey, a famous general during the last years of the Roman republic, brought the territory of Palestine under Rome’s control in 63 BC when his support allowed one side in a Jewish civil war to gain victory. From that point on, Israel ceased to be an independent kingdom and was ruled by client kings — like Herod the Great — who were loyal to the Caesar. In 6 AD, Rome began to rule directly that part of Palestine known as Judea through governors, or procurators. With this rule came also a yearly poll tax of one denarius, the normal daily wage, which was levied on every adult from puberty to age sixty-five. Most Jews loathed the poll tax because it symbolized Rome’s control of Judea,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
No one likes to pay taxes. What is true now was true within the historical context of today’s text. What is equally true, then and now, is people will ask all sorts of questions to deflect from the one core question that needs to asked and answered. The core question is “What must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30)? The answer, then and now, is “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
More to come.
Soli deo Gloria!
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