Matteo 22:18

18 E Gesù, riconosciuta la lor malizia, disse: Perchè mi tentate, o ipocriti?

Matteo 22:18 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 22:18

But Jesus perceived their wickedness
Luke says, "their craftiness"; and Mark says, "knowing their hypocrisy"; for there was, a mixture of malice, hypocrisy, and artfulness, in the scheme they had formed; but Christ being the omniscient God, saw the wickedness of their hearts, knew their hypocritical designs, and was well acquainted with all their artifice: he judged not according to the outward appearance of their affection for him, and opinion of him, of religion, righteousness, and holiness in themselves, and of a sincere desire to have their conscience satisfied about this matter; the snare they laid was visible to him, the mask they put on could not screen them from him, nor impose upon him:

and said, why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
as he might well call them, who feigned themselves just persons, pretended a great deal of respect for him, call him master, compliment him with the characters of a faithful, sincere, and disinterested preacher; yet by putting the above question, designed no other than to ensnare him, and bring him into disgrace or trouble.

Matteo 22:18 In-Context

16 E gli mandarono i lor discepoli, con gli Erodiani, a dirgli: Maestro, noi sappiamo che tu sei verace, e che insegni la via di Dio in verità, e che non ti curi d’alcuno; perciocchè tu non riguardi alla qualità delle persone degli uomini.

17 Dicci adunque: Che ti par egli? È egli lecito di dare il censo a Cesare, o no?

18 E Gesù, riconosciuta la lor malizia, disse: Perchè mi tentate, o ipocriti?

19 Mostratemi la moneta del censo. Ed essi gli porsero un denaro.

20 Ed egli disse loro: Di chi è questa figura, e questa soprascritta?