Luke 20:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, they did not even entertain these thoughts; how could they? They approached Him, trying to provoke Him, and concealed their treacherous intentions while speaking to Him with kind words, much like ravenous beasts disguised in sheep’s clothing. The prophet David likewise condemned such individuals, saying, ‘Their words are smoother than oil, and yet they are the points of spears.’ Additionally, he stated, ‘Their tongue pierces like the point of a spear; the words of their mouth are deceitful: he speaks peaceably to his neighbor, but in his heart is enmity.’

Matthew elaborated on this with greater clarity in chapter fifty-two, so it would be beneficial to seek a comparable understanding there.

Notes: * Matthew 22:16-17.

In an effort to appoint Him as their arbiter in their contention, they questioned Him: since He is a proclaimer of truth and disregards outward appearances, would He now render a judgment...

The high priests and Pharisees, humiliated before the crowd by the teachings of the Lord, sought to capture Jesus Christ and put Him on trial; however, they feared the very people who rallied behind Him, anticipating His role as the Messiah. Consequently, the adversaries of Christ attempted to entrap Him with His words in front of the populace, aiming to undermine their reverence for Him and create grounds to accuse Him as a wrongdoer (Luke 20:26).

During this gathering, the attendees deliberated on how to phrase a query to ensnare Jesus in His words. One suggestion that arose was to ask whether it was permissible to pay tribute to Caesar, and so the Herodians were summoned. They acknowledged the legitimacy of paying taxes to the Romans, making them more inclined to accuse Jesus if He voiced disapproval of such payments. At that time in Palestine, there existed two distinct types of currency: civil and sacred. The civil currency was the Roman coin, emblazoned with the likeness of the emperor (Caesar) along with its associated inscription; this coin was widely used among the Jews for commerce and tax payments to Caesar.

Veiling their treachery with outward respect and civility, the Pharisees approached the Savior, seeking His insight to resolve their confusion. "Rabbi," they declared with insincere admiration, "we recognize that You are righteous and genuinely teach the path of God, indifferent to the opinions of others; for You do not judge by appearances." It was as if they were inviting Him to share His candid thoughts, suggesting a genuine need for His guidance on a significant moral dilemma, fully convinced that He alone held the answer to their quandary.

The inquiry regarding the tribute owed to Caesar is presented in Luke, mirroring its depiction in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Refer to Matthew 22:15-22 and Mark 12:13-17, accompanied by the observation of ‘Watching Him,’ indicating those who sought opportunities to bring about His downfall (Luke 19:47). The term ‘Evil men’ is utilized more explicitly in Matthew and Mark, referring to certain Pharisees and Herodians whose malice the Lord swiftly discerned and admonished. The phrase ‘Pretending to be pious’ suggests that they were acting as zealous legalists, attempting to create the illusion that they approached Him from a place of genuine religious concern rather than as agents of His adversaries with ulterior motives.