Leading Questions

The Pharisees were out to get Jesus. They figure if they could get him to say something against the Romans, they would have a lever in which to remove Jesus. So they go to him and ask him a question involving the payment of taxes to Caesar. If he said no, well the Romans might be after him.

But notice how they speak to Jesus before they ask that question. In Matthew 22:16 they say, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any”. You can see what they are doing. They are trying to rile him up with compliments. Imply he is the type of guy who won’t cave to pressure and then ask him a question to prove just that. Challenge him to show that he is a truthful teacher not afraid of giving the “right” answer.

Jesus didn’t take the bait.

His answer was brilliant. It took the issue out of the trap and back into the real world. He never violates who he is but doesn’t allow the malicious to control the context.

We should take note of this. How often do we get suckered into useless arguments and verbal traps by those that throw out similar traps? “Only real Christians” will do this or “if you love God you will XYZ. Some will take issues of opinion and make them a test of faithfulness. Many will piggyback political content as church doctrine.

Don’t take the bait. We need to render unto Caesar what’s his and God what is God’s. We can give answers without getting pulled into the fray.

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