13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?"
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.
Wanting to trap Jesus, as if that were possible, the Pharisees and the Herodians tried to catch Him in His words. As God would have it, in doing so, they proclaimed great truth! First, they call Him “teacher” indicating that He was a recognized authority in the interpretation of Scripture. Secondly, they state that they know that He is a man of integrity (oh really) meaning that they have knowledge in the absolute sense that He is authentic, truthful, upright and sincere (boy are they digging their own graves!). Thirdly, they proclaim that He is not swayed by men because He doesn’t pay any attention to who they are. This reminds me so much of Paul’s words in Galatians: 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Gal 1:10 (NIV)
Fourthly, they proclaim that He teaches the way of God in accordance with the truth (oh really – again!) – please realize a belief is only a belief if it takes root and changes a life. You live what you believe. Their actions proved that they did not believe what they were espousing. That, of course, does not negate the fact that it is totally true. Jesus did teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Knowing that they were trying to trap Him with some silliness of paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus (as usual) responds to their two questions with three of His own. When we get too “big for our britches” so to speak, God oftentimes asks us questions – it can be a bit frightening! I am reminded of Job’s harrowing experience when he was questioning God – read now God’s response:The Lord Speaks 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone--
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:1-7 (NIV)
God begins to give Job a litany of questions that would make any mere man melt. As David (the man after God’s own heart) states:
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? Psalms 8:3-4 (NIV)
Jesus basically gets them to answer their own questions resulting in their amazement. This is no surprise. The New Testament is replete with examples of people amazed by Jesus – He is Amazing! Matthew states: 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matt 7:28-29 (NIV)
Remember, Jesus can take our questions. The question is, are we able to take His? "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Jer 33:2-3 (NIV)