Matthew 22:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, they affirm His righteousness, recognizing Him for who He truly is, though not from genuine intent, nor with pure hearts, as they add: "not caring to gain favor from anyone." The clarity of their intention is evident in these words; they aim to make Him utter something that could offend Herod, insinuating that He has usurped authority, as someone in defiance of the law, so they might later accuse Him of being a disruptor and a thief of power. When they say, "You do not seek the approval of men" and "You do not regard any person," they refer specifically to Herod and Caesar.

They asked Him, therefore, whether they should also submit to human authority and pay taxes as we present the didrachma to God, or whether their obligation was solely to God. Their intention in posing this question was clear: if He responded that tribute should not be paid to Caesar, He would be apprehended and executed as a sympathizer with Judas and Theudas, who opposed offerings to Caesar. Yet, Jesus, referring to the image of Caesar on the coin, instructs them that what bears Caesar’s likeness must be rendered to Caesar. Generally, this implies that in matters concerning our physical existence, we should comply with earthly rulers, while in matters of spiritual significance, we are to follow God. This can be interpreted differently: we each have a dual nature—body and soul. To the body, which is akin to Caesar, we must provide food and clothing, while to the soul, which is of a higher nature, we must offer what is suitable for its upliftment.

Yet if He is just, why do you continuously claim that He misleads the people (John 7:12)? The ways of God are indeed communicated truthfully... How then can you assert that He is not from God (John 9:16)? The way of God signifies the virtue that leads one toward Him. You disregard all human considerations; you do not look upon the face of man. They were attempting to sway Him, urging Him not to shrink from Caesar and to ensure His response was not left unspoken. Certainly, all that they proclaimed concerning Him was accurate, but their motivation was not genuine but rather manipulative in nature.

This reluctance to confront Christ directly stemmed from their hostility, which raised suspicion against them, and they found it impossible to engage without triggering that suspicion. A visible adversary is often easier to manage than a deceptive ally. The former, being feared, commands a certain predictability, whereas the latter, shrouded in uncertainty, poses a greater risk. Therefore, they dispatched their disciples—individuals less well-known—to minimize suspicion, intending to obscure their true intentions and deceive Him more readily. If their plot were to be uncovered, they hoped to emerge with less shame before Him.

They addressed Him as a teacher, even as a righteous one. Yet this accolade was merely a facade, a pretentious acknowledgment aimed at eliciting secrets from His heart as if they genuinely wished to follow Him as disciples. This tactic exemplifies the first means of hypocrites—feigned acclaim. They offer praise to the one they mean to undermine, hoping that the allure of their compliments will gradually sway the hearts of others toward their duplicitous intentions.

The inclusion of the Herodians alongside their disciples raises a question: why this collaboration? As St. Philaret of Moscow remarks, this illustrates the crafty nature of their malice. When Rome conquered Judea, the obligation of paying taxes to Caesar became a contentious issue, prompting many to ask, "Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar?" The Herodians endorsed the payment of taxes, while opposing views were considered rebellious. Conversely, the Pharisees maintained that Jews, being God's chosen people, should only offer tribute to God for His temple, deeming it an affront to the Almighty to pay taxes to a pagan like Caesar. How, then, do these groups with opposing beliefs come together? They temporarily set aside their animosity to conspire against the Teacher of truth, whom they both despise. Should He affirm that paying taxes to Caesar is lawful, the Pharisees would accuse Him of betraying God and His people, thus undermining their faith in Him as a messenger of God. On the other hand, if He responded that it is not lawful to pay taxes, the Herodians would label Him as a rebel and bring Him before the Roman governor, risking death. The trap they laid was both subtle and well-crafted; how would they ensnare Him in His words? Innocent, Archbishop of Kherson, explains that the Herodians were beneficial to the Pharisees because, if the Pharisees themselves accused Jesus before the Roman authorities, they would evoke the people’s wrath, a sentiment the Pharisees were keen to avoid. The Herodians, however, could act without consequence. Furthermore, accusations from the Herodians, loyal to Herod and Caesar, would carry more weight with the Roman procurator than those from the Pharisees, who lacked the procurator’s confidence due to their motives. Thus, the tempters approached the Lord under the guise of innocent conversation; the Pharisaic disciples feigned a debate between them and the Herodians, seeking to appeal to the wisdom of the esteemed Teacher Jesus. They began by exclaiming, "TEACHER! There is a topic on which few dare speak candidly; we desire to hear your thoughts on it. WE KNOW YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS, as the truth is paramount to you. You genuinely teach the ways of God, expressing your views without fear, as a true teacher of Israel, conveying what God requires of humanity without concern for the opinions of others, not swayed by the faces of men; you will not be influenced by Pilate or Herod..." St. Chrysostom observes how flattery marks their approach, skillfully disguising their ulterior motives. "We know," they say, “that Thou art just.” Were they not the ones who claimed He was a deceiver, misleading the people, possessed by a demon, and not of God? What lengths will people go to discredit others? Only recently, they had insolently questioned Him, "By what authority do You perform these acts?" but received no answer. Now, they hoped to ensnare Him through flattery, pushing Him towards a statement that would contradict existing laws and authority. Thus, they recognized His justice, albeit insincerely, and remarked, "You do not care to please anyone." Their intentions become conspicuously clear through these words; they aimed to provoke Him into saying something that would offend Herod, casting suspicion on Him as a rebel against the law. When they stated, "You do not seek to please anyone, for you regard no one's status," they were referencing Herod and Caesar. The conceited disciples of the arrogant Pharisees misjudged the Lord, offering Him praises that were in stark contrast to the humility of one who is meek and lowly in spirit. Thus, their deceitful flattery became evident.

They approached Him with a provocative inquiry, “Is it lawful for us, God’s chosen people, to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” The challenge of this question was twofold: a negative response would provoke the wrath of the Roman authority, while an affirmative reply would displease the people, who, misled by the Pharisees, believed that their allegiance was owed solely to God, thus deeming submission to a foreign ruler as incompatible. Jesus Christ’s reply perfectly illustrated that both obligations are intertwined; it is right to render to the earthly authority what is due, as their earthly existence is fostered under its protection, but this does not exempt one from upholding the commandments of God.

In Palestine at that time, two types of currency were in circulation: secular and sacred. The secular currency was the Roman coin, adorned with the image of the emperor (Caesar) and corresponding inscriptions; this coin was utilized in the Jews' daily trade and for tax payments to Caesar. The Jewish currency, the shekel, was regarded as sacred, used by the Jews to pay their annual temple tax; every Jew, regardless of location, owed one shekel each year for the temple in Jerusalem.

The Jews viewed themselves as subjects of God alone and therefore felt it was their duty to pay taxes solely to Him, specifically for His temple. They regarded any additional taxation as unlawful, viewing it as subjugation to a king other than God and a form of enslavement to Gentiles. This discussion would surely intrigue the crowd surrounding Jesus, who were devoted to Him. Should He declare the tax to Caesar lawful, He risked alienating the populace, who bore a deep resentment for the tribute. Conversely, if He claimed the tax was unlawful, it would lead to His denunciation to Pilate and eventual arrest.

In response to the Pharisees regarding the Caesar tax, the deceivers approached Jesus under the guise of His loyal followers, showering Him with flattery: "Teacher, we know You are just, and that You always speak the truth without fear of displeasing anyone, even the authorities of this world. You are indifferent to whom You reprove when they act unjustly, for You genuinely teach the way of God. So tell us Your opinion: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or is it wrong for us to do so? Are we not turning from the people of God into the servitude of a pagan king? Please instruct us on whether we should pay this tax or decline to do so?"

They were acutely aware of the Romans’ apprehension toward messianic movements within the Jewish community, which had previously required considerable effort and resources to stifle. Recently, Christ had openly proclaimed Himself as the Messiah, yet because this announcement did not incite a popular uprising, it provided no legal basis for accusations against Him. Consequently, they sought to fabricate such a basis through cunning. Cloaking their deceit in false respect, the Pharisees approached the Savior and feigned a desire for clarity on a complex matter. “Teacher,” they began with flattering insincerity, “we know that You are righteous and teach the way of God in truth, and You do not show favoritism; for You are not swayed by appearances.” By this, they prompted Him to share His genuine opinion without fear or partiality, as if they genuinely sought His insight on an important moral dilemma, believing Him uniquely equipped to unravel their confusion.

Thus, the question posed to the Lord presented a dilemma. They sought to ensnare Him, attempting to ensnare Him whether He sided with the Herodians or the Pharisees. If He aligned with the Herodians, the Pharisees would have condemned Him; if He sided with the Pharisees, then Herod's followers would accuse Him. Another notable belief of the Herodians was that a conquered people were expected to adopt the customs of their conquerors. This is reflected in the warning Jesus gave to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15).

In their flattering yet insincere words—meant to deceive— lay an undeniable truth. When they called Him “just,” they recognized His ability to judge and teach with righteousness. When they said, “Thou teachest the way of God,” they acknowledged that He instructed in accordance with divine principles for living rightly, emphasizing the truth of divine revelation. Their statement about Him not seeking to please anyone revealed their ulterior motive: to provoke Him into saying something that would alienate Herod and cast suspicion upon Him as a revolutionary against the law, potentially leading to His punishment for disturbing the peace and usurping authority. Their comment “You do not care to please anyone” and “You do not look at any face” implied a reference to both Herod and Caesar, as noted by Chrysostom and Theophilus. The phrase “Thou shalt not look on any face,” in biblical context, signifies impartiality, indicating that judgment should be based solely on truth without external influences (see Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 16:19, 2 Samuel 14:14, Acts 10:34, James 2:1, James 3:9, 1 Peter 1:17).

They resorted to all means necessary to achieve their ends, even allying with their rivals, the Herodians, supporters of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. The Herodians, closely aligned with the Sadducees, formed a faction that was keen to maintain friendly ties with the Roman government, even at the expense of cherished popular beliefs. Since the Sadducees were not particularly committed to these beliefs either, the Herodians considered them as allies in their endeavors, earning the Pharisees’ scorn.

The Pharisees, the staunch defenders of the law and national identity, detested the changes permitted by the Sadducees and their followers. Yet, they resolved to partner with those they loathed to leverage their influence against the Lord. They sent their disciples to approach the Divine Master alongside the Herodians, feigning pious simplicity and sincerity to pose a question that had yet to be resolved adequately by anyone. This inquiry was timely and carried significant potential for danger. The Jews, stripped of their autonomy, were compelled to pay taxes to the Romans, a situation they found unacceptable. The populace, led by the Pharisees, believed that taxes owed to foreign powers were contrary to the spirit of the Mosaic law, asserting that only those necessary for worship were obligatory for a true Israelite. Meanwhile, Herod's followers and some Sadducees, driven by necessity, deemed it lawful to pay tributes to an occupying government.

Using a guise of respect, the cunning schemers approached the Savior and said, “Teacher, we know that thou art true, that thou speakest rightly, and teachest truly the way of God, and caredst not for any man, for thou seest not the face of man. Surely you will not say anything to please Pilate or Herod, nor will you be afraid of Caesar himself,” - but tell us: what do you think? - Shall we pay tribute to Caesar, or not? What deceit lies in their inquiry!

St. John Chrysostom notes that they do not ask for what is good or useful, or in accordance with the law, but merely what He thinks. Their intent was solely to entrap Him and frame Him as opposed to the highest authority. The flattery in their approach suggests they anticipated a negative response, believing that the Messiah would not wish to discourage the hopeful aspirations of a people yearning for liberation from foreign oppression. Despite the teachings about a heavenly and spiritual kingdom, the people expected tangible earthly benefits from the Messiah, particularly the restoration of independence. A negative response in the presence of the Herodians would provide the Pharisees with a critical opportunity to accuse the Savior before the Roman governor: they would not hesitate to paint Him as a dangerous opponent of Roman authority, a disruptor of public peace, making it harder for the people to adjust to their foreign rule. They would rush to inform Pilate, Herod, and even reach out to Rome, declaring, "This Man says that there is no need to pay taxes to you. You protect us from robbers, construct bridges, roads, palaces, and what does He say?" They would waste no time in bringing Him to judgment.

However, even if the Lord had answered affirmatively, the Pharisees would not have felt defeated. They could argue that He harbored no affection for the Jewish people, desiring them to remain in bondage and work tirelessly to give a large portion of their earnings to their conquerors. The people, hearing the revered Teacher openly acknowledge Roman authority and endorse a legal tax to foreigners, would be justifiably outraged, potentially leading them to rebellion—an outcome desired by the enemies of Christ. Ultimately, had the Savior chosen to remain silent in the face of their malicious query, the Pharisees could have exploited His silence to diminish His prophetic stature in the eyes of the people.