Matteo 22:18

18 Ma Gesù, conosciuta la loro malizia, disse: Perché mi tentate, 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 loro discepoli con gli Erodiani a dirgli: Maestro, noi sappiamo che sei verace e insegni la via di Dio secondo verità, e non ti curi d’alcuno, perché non guardi all’apparenza delle persone.

17 Dicci dunque: Che te ne pare? E’ egli lecito pagare il tributo a Cesare, o no?

18 Ma Gesù, conosciuta la loro malizia, disse: Perché mi tentate, ipocriti?

19 Mostratemi la moneta del tributo. Ed essi gli porsero un denaro. Ed egli domandò loro:

20 Di chi è questa effigie e questa iscrizione?