Mt. 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk
Mk. 12:13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.
Lk. 20:20 So they watched Him, and set spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
Mt. 22:16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.”
Mk. 12:14a When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth.”
Lk. 20:21 And they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show favoritism, but teach the way of God truly.”
External corroboration of Yeshua’s Jewish scholarship is provided by the fact that, although he was not an approved scribe, some were accustomed to address Him as “Rabbi,” or “my teacher/master.” Nevertheless, it should be noted that according to the oldest sources, as reflected I Luke, only outsiders addressed Yeshua as Rabbi. Those numbered among the inner circle of His followers and those who came to Him in need addressed Him as “Lord.” Apparently this is the title Ha’Adon that He preferred.
The epithet “Rabbi” was in common use in those days ans was especially popular for describing scholars and teachers of the Torah. It had not et become restricted to expert and ordained teachers. The generation following Yeshua was the first to employ the title as an academic degree.
Mt. 22:17 “Tell us, therefore what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Mk. 12:14b “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar of not?”
Lk. 20:22 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Mt. 22:18 But Yeshua perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?”
Mk. 12:15a “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me?”
Lk. 20:23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?”
Mt. 22:19 “Show Me the tax money.” So they brought him a denarius.
Mk. 12:15b “Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.”
Lk. 20:24a “Show Me a denarius.”
Because these are good Jews, none of them happen to have any tribute money. The Greek tense here tells us that they had to go and bring it. They couldn’t merely give it. They had to fetch the tribute coin and bring it back to Him. All they would have had on them was Jewish tribute money that was used for the purpose of Temple currency. Jewish law forbid them to carry anything with an image on it. The Roman denarius used to pay tribute to Caesar had the image of Caesar on it.
Mt. 22:20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
Mk. 12:16a So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s”
Lk. 20:24b “Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, “Caesar’s”
The people who are instigating the situation here are known at the Zealots or the Fourth Philosophy. Josephus describes them this way: But of the fourth sect of the Jewish philosophy, Judas the Galilean was the author. These men agree in all other things with the pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. They also do not count the cost of dying any kind of death, not indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any such fear make them any man lord. And since this immovable resolution of theirs is well-known to a great many. I shall speak no further about the matter, nor am I afraid that anything I have said of them shall be disbelieved, but rather fear, that what I have said is beneath the resolution they show when they undergo pain. And it was in Gessius Florus’ time that the nation began to grow mad with this disease, who was our procurator, and he occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans.”
Source: Jos. Ant. 18.2.6 23-25
Mt. 22:21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s” And He said to therm, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Mk. 12:17a Then Yeshua answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Lk. 20:25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The phrase “render unto Caesar” has generally been taken s a Biblical admonition (or at least sanctioned) to pay one’s taxes and to keep politics separate from religion. But, according to Ball, that is a misunderstanding. Yeshua is suggesting by analogy that the coin, which bears the likeness of the emperor, must go to the emperor. But, whatever bears God’s likeness, that is, humankind made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26), must be devoted to God. Caesar might get a coin, but God gets one’s whole self.
Source: Genesis 1:26
Mt. 22:22 When thy heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Mk. 12:17b And they marveled at Him.
Lk. 20:26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
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