Matthew 22:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Their greater concern was that He might contradict the Herodians. Thus, they sent their disciples with the intention of provoking Him into a controversial statement, which they could then use as a basis to hand Him over to the authorities as a violator of the law. Luke the evangelist notes that they questioned Him publicly, looking to gather more witnesses to support their plot. However, the outcome was the opposite of their design, revealing their folly before the assembled crowd. They asked Him, "Tell us: what do you think?" Ironically, they now referred to the one they had repeatedly disdained and insulted regarding salvation as a teacher. Yet, they remained unchanged in their views. Their cunning is evident; they avoided asking, "What is good?" or "What aligns with the law?" Instead, they posed a vague inquiry of opinion, solely focused on finding a way to betray Him and implicate Him in defiance of the ruling power. This intent is further underscored by the account of Mark the Evangelist.

They inquired whether it was acceptable to be subject to human authorities and to render them taxes, akin to offering the didrachma to God, or if payment should only be made to God. Their inquiry held a specific aim: if He had responded, "We must not pay tribute to Caesar," He would have been arrested and put to death for being seen as a supporter of Judas and Theudas, who had rebelled against paying tribute to Caesar. However, Jesus, referencing the likeness of Caesar on the coin, instructs them that what bears Caesar’s image must be returned to him. Essentially, this conveys the message that in matters pertaining to our earthly existence, we should obey rulers, while in spiritual matters, we owe our allegiance to God. It can also be interpreted in another way: each of us must offer to the adversary, that Caesar of the underworld, what rightfully belongs to him. For instance, if you experience anger, recognize that this anger originates from Caesar, which is from the evil one; redirect your wrath towards the genuine source of that anger, meaning you should be indignant and opposed to the devil. In this manner, you will also render God’s rightful due to Him: by fulfilling His commandments. Another perspective is that we are dual beings, comprising body and soul; to our body, akin to Caesar, we owe sustenance and clothing, while to our elevated part, our soul, we must provide what is fitting for it.

If he were to affirm the possibility of paying tribute, they could rally the populace against him by suggesting that he endorsed servitude to Caesar, effectively subordinating God's people to human authorities. Conversely, if he declared it impossible, they would seek to use that answer to report him to the governor, framing it as a call to resist Caesar and incite rebellion. How did the Source of all wisdom respond to such a question?

Should we pay or should we not pay?” Their inquiry was fueled by rage and a twisted desire to eliminate Him, all while feigning a desire to please Him. But the one they sought to ensnare perceives not only their question but also the motives and hearts of those who ask. He discerns that “their wickedness is ripe and openly revealed,” and thus He “pierces deeper into their affliction, unveiling their hidden thoughts, exposing to everyone their true intent in coming to Him, thereby confounding them right from the outset.”

At that time, Palestine had two types of currency: secular and sacred. The secular currency was the Roman coin bearing the likeness of the emperor (Caesar) along with its inscription, widely used by the Jews in trade and for taxes owed to Caesar. The Jewish coin, known as the shekel, was viewed as sacred and primarily used for paying the annual temple tax to Jerusalem, a requirement for every Jew regardless of their location. The Jewish people believed they were subjects only to God and felt a divine obligation to contribute only to His house, the temple. Any other tax was seen as oppressive, making them servants to a ruler other than God and enslaving them to Gentile authorities.

This question was likely significant to the following that surrounded Jesus, who were loyal to Him. If He stated that paying taxes to Caesar was lawful, He would risk losing the support of the populace, who were resentful of taxation. Conversely, if He declared it unlawful, He would be reported to Pilate and face arrest.

As the detainers approached Jesus, masquerading as His sincere followers, they began to flatter Him: "Teacher, we recognize Your righteousness, and how You always proclaim the truth without fear of disapproval from anyone, including worldly authorities. You do not shy away from correcting iniquity because You genuinely teach the way of God. Please tell us, is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or is it unlawful? Are we not abandoning the people of God to become subjects of a pagan monarch? Enlighten us on whether we should pay this tax or refuse."

This scheme was driven by the hypocritical Pharisees, the self-proclaimed keepers of the Mosaic Law, who spared no effort to achieve their goals, even forming an alliance with their enemies, the followers of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. The Herodians, who sought to maintain favorable relations with the Roman government at all costs, shared sympathies with the Sadducees (Mark 8:15; Matthew 16:6). While the Sadducees largely disregarded the traditional beliefs of the people, the Herodians viewed them as allies, which led to their mutual disdain by the Pharisees. As staunch defenders of the Law and Jewish identity, the Pharisees despised the changes embraced by the Sadducees and their adherents. Yet, in their desire to accuse the Lord more effectively, the Pharisees approached their rivals for assistance.

They sent their disciples to Jesus alongside the Herodians, presenting themselves as genuinely pious and sincere. Together, they posed a question that had perplexed many: "Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?" The question was not only relevant to their circumstances but also fraught with peril. The Jews, stripped of their independence, were burdened by Roman taxes, which many believed contradicted the spirit of the Mosaic Law. The common belief among the people, influenced by the Pharisees, was that only taxes for the temple were obligatory for a true Israelite (Exodus 30:12-16). Conversely, Herod's supporters and the Sadducees, driven by necessity, contended that it was acceptable to pay taxes to a foreign authority. With a facade of respect, they approached the Savior, flattering Him: "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God accurately, and are not swayed by others because you do not judge by outward appearance. So tell us, what is your opinion? Should we pay tribute to Caesar or not?" This was nothing short of treachery.

As St. John Chrysostom observes, they did not seek to know what was righteous or beneficial according to the Law; instead, they aimed to entrap Him in opposition to the ruling authorities. The Pharisees anticipated a negative response, believing that He, who identified as the Messiah, would not want to undermine the people's hopes for liberation from Roman rule. Despite the message of a heavenly kingdom, the populace still sought temporal freedom from oppression above all else. A negative answer from Jesus would have provided the Pharisees with the grounds to accuse Him before the Roman governor, portraying Him as a threat to Roman authority and a scourge of public peace. They would have seized the chance to report Him to Pilate and Herod, claiming, "This man teaches that we should not pay taxes to you." They would not hesitate to have Him executed.

Even had the Lord answered affirmatively, the Pharisees would still twist His words: He does not care for His people, wishing to maintain their bondage and submit to their oppressors, ruling that the hardships of taxation continue. Knowing that the people would react furiously, perceiving the glorified Teacher as an advocate for the Romans, they could have stoked violent uprisings against Him to further their plot. Ultimately, if the Savior had chosen not to respond to their malicious inquiry, His silence could have been weaponized against Him, tarnishing His prophetic stature in the eyes of the people.