GUARD
YOUR WORDS!
Matt
22:15-22
15
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him
in his talk.
16
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master,
we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither
carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17
Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto
Caesar, or not?
18
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto
Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their
way.
The
Pharisees, strict adherents to the law and personal representatives of staunch
Judaism, were present to hear Jesus say it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar.
If this is what Jesus would say it would strengthen their position against the
Son of God. The Herodians were there to hear Jesus say that it was not lawful
to pay tribute. If Jesus said these words then he would be condemned for
rebellion and tax evasion. It was a set-up! It was thought that Jesus could not
win.
Herod was at this very time at Jerusalem, whither he had
come to hold the passover. Jesus, being of Nazareth, which was in Herod's
jurisdiction, was considered as his subject. Herod himself was extremely
attached to the Roman emperor, and made a public profession of it: all these
considerations engaged the Pharisees to unite the Herodians, who, as the Syriac
intimates, were the domestics of Herod, in this infernal plot. (From Adam
Clarke's Commentary)
Jesus
created both the mind and the tongue and He used them with great skill. The
penny bore the stamp of Caesar and should be returned to him but all things
belonged to God. Religious involvement in civil issues are always a danger
because both Pharisees and Herodians are always standing by.
Col 4:6
6 Let your speech be alway with grace,
seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Dear
Lord, give me your wisdom today in answering questions. AMEN
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