Truth and flattery with a hook ∙

Truth and flattery with a hook ∙

Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth and defer to no one, for You are not partial to any. – Matthew 22:16

Matthew 22:20-26

 20 Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.

 21 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.

 22 Now tell us – is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

 23 He saw through their trickery and said,

 24 “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

 25 “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

 26 So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.

Entrapment occurs when someone is persuaded to commit a crime they would not have otherwise engaged in. This typically involves government agents or law enforcement officers. In the United States, entrapment is a legal defense against criminal charges, aiming to prove that the crime’s idea originated with officials and that the accused was pressured into committing it.

This strategy aims to discourage law enforcement officers from using dubious practices that may lead to criminal acts.

Religious leaders, often offended and angered by the Lord Jesus Christ, contrived a scheme to ensnare Him. Their bait was flattery. They conspired together and attempted to elicit a response from Him that could be interpreted as undermining Roman law and authority. The Scriptures clearly indicate that flattery is frequently used as a means to entrap others.

Proverbs 29:5 To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.

The entire incident is filled with irony. They lavish praise on Jesus, calling Him a bold and fearless prophet and teacher. They claim that He unfalteringly speaks the Father’s truth without compromise. He refuses to defer to anyone. Additionally, He does not seek human approval or the praise of men but is solely concerned with the commendation of His Father in heaven (John 12:43).

“Jesus immediately saw through their scheme. He knew that their real purpose was not to get an answer to a question, but to try to trap Him” (Wiersbe). He makes a brilliant countermove that leaves his inquirers astonished, dumbfounded, and speechless.

REFLECT & PRAY

“The money belongs to Caesar, and you belong to God. Let the world have its coins, but let God have His creatures” (MacDonald).

Father, thank You for providing the Word of God, a dependable source of true Truth. Help me to stand firm, avoid entrapments, and proclaim Your Truth accurately and impartially.

INSIGHT

In their efforts to trap the Lord Jesus Christ, the religious leaders inadvertently highlighted their understanding of His character and teachings.

Luke 20:21 You speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.

This interaction became a teaching opportunity, a discipleship moment. The Lord Jesus Christ seized the moment to impart several crucial spiritual lessons to the onlookers. His response was both succinct and wise.

Understanding some historical context sheds light on His explanation. It offers a deeper comprehension of what the Lord Jesus Christ said. “Each ruler minted his own coins and put his own image on them. The ‘penny’ (denarius) had Caesar’s image on it, so it belonged to Caesar. ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,’ was His reply. ‘And give back to God what belongs to God’” (Wiersbe).

What is owed to the Father?

The denarius features Caesar’s image and symbolizes the tribute owed to him. Jesus introduces a more significant command: people should give to God what bears His image and likeness, namely, themselves (ESV notes).

The message is straightforward yet profound. There is a distinct separation between the Father and Caesar. Ultimately, the coins belong to Caesar. Render unto him what is rightfully his. Simultaneously, render unto the Father God what is His. People belong to the Father; those who follow Him are to offer themselves in devotion (Romans 12:1).

But there is more to consider.

The phrase “You tell the truth” could be rendered “You are an honest man,” “You are a man of integrity,” or “You are a truthful man” (UBS).

The phrase “Truly teach the way of God” could be translated as “You tell each person clearly and plainly how he must live according to God’s will,” “You do teach the life that God wishes us to live,” “You teach the truth about God’s will for man,” or “What you teach about God’s laws (or, will) is the truth (or, correct)” (UBS).

The enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ recognized that He spoke true truth. How ironic that they did not believe what they heard.

The Greek clause translated as “You are impartial, or You defer to no one” is ou gar blepeis eis prosopon anthropon. It literally reads, “You do not look to the face of men” (D. A. Carson).

“You do not regard the position of men” translates the Semitic idiom: “You do not look into the face of men.” . . . [the] emphasis is upon the impartiality with which Jesus treats people, regardless of their status (“you are impartial”). [The] GeCL translation connects this clause with the previous one: “influenced by people, no matter how important they are.”

“Some translators will make this a new sentence: ‘You don’t care whether someone is important or not’ or ‘It does not matter to you whether someone is an important person or not’” (UBS).

The phrase “You show no partiality” or “You are not partial to any” is literally “You care for no man” in Greek, and to express the idea more clearly, it can be translated. “You do not allow yourself to be influenced by people,” “You are not swayed by men’s opinion of you,” or “You don’t care what people think” (UBS).

The Lord Jesus Christ stood with unwavering courage, boldly declaring what the Father wishes for people to know and do. His character and integrity are impeccable, and He always speaks the Truth, regardless of others’ opinions or what they think of Him. He can be trusted to proclaim what is right and true concerning the matters of God. In essence, “He was sincere, faithful to the truth, fearless, and no respecter of persons.” (Morris).

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© Dr. H 2024