April 16, 2025
Holy Week - Holy Wednesday
Matthew 22:17-21
04/16/2025
17 ``Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to
pay taxes to Caesar, or not?''
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ``Why put
me to the test, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the coin for the tax.'' And they brought
him a denarius.
20 And Jesus said to them, ``Whose likeness and
inscription is this?''
21 They said, ``Caesar's.'' Then he said to them,
``Therefore render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.''
(ESV)
Although the Gospels are silent about the activities of
Jesus and His disciples on Wednesday of Holy Week, the rulers of
the Temple were still upset over Him avoiding their verbal traps.
Their verbal contest simply added to the desire of the chief
priests to put Jesus to death. Judas, the one who betrayed
Jesus, may have made his deal with the chief priests either on
Wednesday or Thursday.
One of the questions asked by the Pharisees in an attempt to
discredit Jesus concerned taxes paid to Rome. If Jesus said,
``Pay taxes,'' He could be considered a traitor to the Jewish
people. If Jesus said, ``Don't pay taxes,'' He could be accused
of usurping the Roman authority.
``Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay
taxes to Caesar, or not?'' But Jesus, aware of their
malice, said, ``Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin for the tax.'' And they brought him a
denarius. And Jesus said to them, ``Whose likeness and
inscription is this?'' They said, ``Caesar's.'' Then
he said to them, ``Therefore render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that
are God's.''
Other groups tried different questions to besmirch Jesus'
reputation in the sight of the people. Each group failed. Jesus
clearly proclaimed the truth of God's Word. Therefore Matthew
recorded, ``Nor from that day did anyone dare to ask Him any more
questions.[1]
May the truth of God's Word, may the truth of Jesus'
teaching, continue to guide us as we hold to Him in faith. Amen.
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1. Matthew 22:46