When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.
Read Chapter 22
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
And when they heard, they marvelled, &c. They marvelled at the wisdom of Christ, who thus easily extricated Himself from the snare which to the Pharisees seemed so impossible of escape, and twisted it round their own necks, who had laid it, according to the words of the Psalm , "In their own net which they laid privily is their foot taken." And again it is said ( Proverbs 21:30), "There is neither Wisdom of Solomon , nor prudence, nor counsel against the Lord."
Ord.: Who as unknown to Him, were more likely to ensnare Him, and so through them they might take Him, which they feared to do of themselves because of the populace.
non occ.: There are three ways in which it is possible for one not to teach the truth. First, on the side of the teacher, who may either not know, or not love the truth; guarding against this, they say, “We know that Thou art true. "Secondly, on the side of God, there aresome who, putting aside all fear of Him, do not utter honestly the truth which they know respecting Him; to exclude this they say, “And teachest the way of God in truth. "Thirdly, on the side of our neighbour, when through fear or affection any one withholds the truth; to exclude this they say, “And carest for no man,” for Thou regardest not the person of man.
For if there remain with us nothing that is Caesar’s, we shall not be bound bythe condition of rendering to him the things that are his; but if we lean upon what is his, if we avail ourselves of the lawful protection of his power, we cannot complain of it as any wrong if we are required to render to Caesar the things of Caesar.
It behoves us also to render unto God the things that are His, namely, body, soul, and will. For Caesar’s coin is in the gold, in which His image was portrayed, that is, God’s coin, on which the Divine image is stamped; give therefore your money to Caesar, but preserve a conscience void of offence for God.
Lately under Caesar Augustus, Judaea, which was subject to the Romans, had been made tributary when the census was held of the whole world; and there was a great division among the people, some saying that tribute ought to be paid to the Romans in return forthe security and quiet which their arms maintained for all. The Pharisees on the other hand, self- satisfied in their own righteousness, contended that the people of God who paid tithes and gave first-fruits, and did all the other things which are written in the Law, ought not to be subject to human laws.
This smooth and treacherous enquiry was a kind of challenge to the answerer to fear God rather than Caesar, and immediately they say, “Tell us therefore, whatthinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? "Should He say tribute should not be paid, the Herodians would immediately accuse Him as a person disaffected to the Emperor.
This is the first excellence of the answerer, that He discerns the thoughts of His examin...
When they heard these things, their mouths were stopped, and they marvelled at His wisdom. Ought they not then to have believed, ought they not to have been amazed. For indeed, He gave them proof of His Godhead, by revealing the secrets of their hearts, and with gentleness did He silence them.
What then? Did they believe? By no means, but they left Him, and went their way; and after them, came to Him the Sadducees.
As when one seeks to dam a stream of running water, as soon as one outlet is stopped up it makes another channel for itself; so the malevolence of the Jews, foiled on one hand, seeks itself out another course. "Then went the Pharisees; went” to theHerodians. Such as the plan was, such were the planners; “They send unto Him their disciples with the Herodians.”.
Hom. lxx: They send their disciples and Herod’s soldiers together, that whatever opinion He might give might be found fault with. Yet would they rather have had Him say somewhat against the Herodians; for being themselves afraid tolay hands on Him because of the populace, they sought to bring Him into danger through His liability to pay tribute.
This is the commonest act of hypocrites, to commend those they would ruin. Thus, these break out into praises of Him, saying, “Master, we know that Thouart true.” They call Him Master, that, deceived by this show of honour and respect, He might in simplicity open all His heart to them, as...
Thinking to placate and disarm Him with praise, they flatter Him, so that when He had let down His guard He would say that it was not necessary to pay the tax, and upon that they would seize Him as an insurrectionist who was stirring up the people against Caesar. This is why they also brought along the Herodians, so that they, representing the king, could arrest Him as a rebel. "Thou regardest not the person of men," they say, that is, you would not say anything for the sake of Pilate or Herod. Tell us, then, should we be subject to men’s taxation and pay them tribute just as we pay the two-drachma tax to God, or should we pay tribute to God alone, and not to Caesar as well? They said this, as I have explained, so that if He answered that one must not pay tribute to Caesar, they could arrest Him and put Him to death, as they did to the followers of Theudas and Judas (Acts 5:36-37) who said that one must not make sacrifice in Caesar’s name. Jesus persuades them by means of the image of ...
