Mateo 22:18

18 Mas Jesús, entendida la malicia de ellos, les dice: ¿Por qué me tentáis, hipócritas?

Mateo 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.

Mateo 22:18 In-Context

16 Y envían á él los discípulos de ellos, con los Herodianos, diciendo: Maestro, sabemos que eres amador de la verdad, y que enseñas con verdad el camino de Dios, y que no te curas de nadie, porque no tienes acepción de persona de hombres.

17 Dinos pues, ¿qué te parece? ¿es lícito dar tributo á César, ó no?

18 Mas Jesús, entendida la malicia de ellos, les dice: ¿Por qué me tentáis, hipócritas?

19 Mostradme la moneda del tributo. Y ellos le presentaron un denario.

20 Entonces les dice: ¿Cúya es esta figura, y lo que está encima escrito?