Summary
Discern the intent behind someone’s praise
Matthew 22:15-22
[15]The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions.
[16]Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod’s party. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God’s will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone’s status.
[17]Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?”
[18]Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?
[19]Show me the coin for paying the tax!”They brought him the coin,
[20]and he asked them, “Whose face and name are these?”
[21]“The Emperor’s,” they answered.So Jesus said to them, “Well, then, pay the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay God what belongs to God.”
[22]When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.